@article {bnh-3383, title = {Community understanding of tsunami risk and warnings systems in Australia: final project report 2017}, number = {245}, year = {2017}, month = {02/2017}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

The Eastern Australian coastline faces some 8,000km of active tectonic plate boundary that is capable of generating tsunami that could reach Australia in 2-4 hours. Australia also faces risk from events occurring in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with warning times of some 4-8 hours. In New South Wales; some 330,000 people are living at or below a height of 10 metres above sea-level and within 1km of the coast or a coastal river. Recognition of this risk promoted the development of the Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS). The effectiveness of a warning system is a function of its ability to detect a threat, issue a warning, and facilitate timely and effective action in those at risk. This project adopted a qualitative approach to assessing people{\textquoteright}s view about tsunami warnings and their ability to act on them.

Interviews with volunteer, community, and maritime groups and organizations revealed that tsunami are perceived as a non-existent or very low probability event throughout Australia. A belief that no tsunami events had occurred in Australia (at least since colonial times), that major causes (e.g., seismic, volcanic) were absent, and a lack of regular government (local and national) and media discussion of tsunami reinforced this view. Consequently, the predominant belief about tsunami was characterized by risk rejection. Risk rejection resulted in respondents believing that no resources or effort should be directed to tsunami risk reduction strategies. Rectifying this view involves more than training.
Training was found to increase knowledge of tsunami characteristics and behavior, but it did not translate into acceptance of a need for action. Consistent with the literature on risk, respondents discussed the need to increase the public profile of tsunami, and to do so in ways that localize risk reduction activities. In general, the diversity (e.g., in terms of geographic location, topography, demographics, length of residence etc.) of areas susceptible to experiencing tsunami around Australia reinforced the need to develop local level initiatives and develop local warning and community response capabilities. The existence of several volunteer and community groups in susceptible areas makes it feasible to consider the development of local strategies.

The research discussed the availability and use of the {\textquotedblleft}Tsunami: The ultimate guide{\textquotedblright} resource. With the exception of those respondents who had had some involvement in its development, those interviewed were largely unaware of its availability. This was more a function of the fact that tsunami are not a high profile hazard in school curricula. When made aware of the Guide, the consensus was that it appeared to be a useful resource. The uptake of the Guide will be influenced by the degree to which tsunami are seen as a phenomenon that makes a significant contribution to the Australian hazard-scape. The availability of the Guide means that it can be used to complement a risk acceptance strategy (see above) and ensure that community members and schools have ready access to an informative resource to support local risk reduction planning and actions.

}, issn = {245}, author = {Paton, Douglas and David Johnston and Katelyn Rossiter} } @article {bnh-3384, title = {Community Understanding of Tsunami Risk and Warnings Systems in Australia}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {32}, year = {2017}, month = {01/2017}, abstract = {

The Australian coastline includes 8000 km of active tectonic plate boundary\ capable of generating tsunamis that could impact Australia (Australian Bureau\ of Meteorology 2008, Attorney-General{\textquoteright}s Department 2008, Burbidge et al.\ 2008, Dominey-Howes 2007). Australia has experienced over 50 recorded\ incidents of tsunami since European settlement (Anderson 2015).\ Travel times for tsunamis from the closest sources (the Puysegur Trench, south\ of New Zealand, and the Java Trench, south of Java) are approximately two\ hours. Allowing for detection and message formation, warning times of as little\ as 90 minutes can be anticipated. More distant sources have greater travel\ times and correspondingly longer warning times. Should a tsunami occur, the atrisk\ population is large. For example, in New South Wales, 330,000 people live at\ or below a height of 10 metres above sea level and within one kilometre of the\ coast or a coastal river (Bird \& Dominey-Howes 2006).

Recognition of the risk tsunamis pose for coastal communities prompted the\ development of the ATWS. However, to be effective, people must know about\ the system and be able to respond in planned and functional ways when a\ warning is received. It is essential that development of warning systems is\ complemented with activities that address the capability of people to respond\ promptly and appropriately when receiving a warning, particularly if warnings\ only give two hours for plans to be implemented. However, because warning\ systems have developed faster than community capability to respond to them, a need was identified to develop people{\textquoteright}s response capability (Bird \&\ Dominey-Howes 2006, Bird \& Dominey-Howes, 2008, Dall{\textquoteright}Osso et al. 2009,\ Dominey-Howes et al. 2007, Gregg et al. 2007, Johnston et al. 2005, Johnston\ et al. 2009, King \& Gurtner 2005, Paton, Frandsen \& Johnston 2010). To\ develop people{\textquoteright}s capability to respond it is important to examine people{\textquoteright}s\ understanding of and beliefs about tsunami and the implications for tsunami\ risk communication, warnings and preparedness.

}, url = {https://ajem.infoservices.com.au/items/AJEM-32-01-12}, author = {Paton, Douglas and David Johnston and Katelyn Rossiter} }