Solomon Islands will join over 30 countries around the Pacific Rim as a participant in a mock tsunami scenario during 2 – 6 February 2015.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said the Pacific-wide exercise is to practice country tsunami decision-making procedures using the new enhanced forecast products of the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC).
Director of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services, David Hiriasia said the recent events of the 2007 in Solomon Islands, 2009 in Samoa, 2010 in Chile, the 2013 Solomon Islands and the 2014 Chile tsunamis have increased our need to be more prepared for such events.
Mr Hiriasia said his important exercise will validate PTWC’s enhanced products for future official use by countries of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.
Mr Hiriasia explains, the exercise, titled Exercise Pacific Wave 2015 (PacWave15), will simulate Pacific countries being put into a Tsunami Warning situation requiring Government decision-making.
The Exercise is set for Wednesday 4th February and participating organizations will include the Government Agencies with direct roles and responsibilities in tsunami threat assessments.
The NDMO encourages Government Agencies, Provinces, villages, communities, businesses and private sectors to practice their tsunami response plans and encourages the public to participate by contacting the NEOC on Emergency Telephone Number 955 and inform the NEOC of the name of your location, time and mode of communications when you receive the warnings.
The NEOC wish to emphasise the Pacific-wide tsunami exercise on Wednesday is only an exercise and, therefore, the general public is advised not to be panic.
