This project aimed to better understand the factors that shape community resilience to tsunami in Australia, and effective tsunami warning risk communication. The research phase is now completed. The need for this work derived from the fact that the Australian coastline faces some 8,000km of active tectonic plate boundary capable of generating a tsunami that could reach Australia in two to four hours. Recognition of this risk led to the development of the Australian Tsunami Warning System.

The exposure of coastal areas and short lead times makes it important that communities exposed to tsunami threat accept their risk and act on this to increase their response capability. Interviews in communities in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia identified diverse views on what people should be warned of, and how to warn them. Views on what people should be warned of include long term issues (problems evacuating, long term impact on infrastructure, resourcing) and immediate actions (knowing one’s evacuation route). A need to adapt warnings to specific geographical localities and to enhance community readiness was also identified.

The findings of the project have been presented to the Australian Tsunami Advisory Group and the NSW SES, and will be used to inform the development and implementation of a community engagement strategy that can be used by end-user agencies to develop community warning and response strategies.

Read the final report here.