Mitigation activities are critical for preparing local governments and community populations for the potential of tsunami impact. Recognizing the need for specific state level activities such as location specific assessment of the hazard, inundation and evacuation map development, planning, and community education, the United States Congress in 1995 directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) as a federal/state partnership for the specific purpose of mitigating the risk of tsunamis along U.S. coastlines.  The program is administered by NOAA and includes representation by a number of NOAA agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and 28 U.S. states and territories. A coordinating committee composed of representatives from each of the member partners leads all efforts, the focus of which is increasing public awareness of the tsunami risk and supporting preparedness at the community, state, regional, and national levels.  

 

The NTHMP has four strategic themes: 

 

1. Hazard and Risk Assessment

2. Education and Preparedness

3. Mitigation and Recovery

4. Alert, Warning, and Response

 

Each theme is supported by the goals and strategies discussed in the 2018-2023 NTHMP Strategic Plan, that were in turn carefully developed to advance the NTHMP mission “to mitigate the impact of tsunamis through public education, community response planning, hazard assessment, and warning coordination.”  The driving vision behind all efforts is twofold: a) ‘reduced loss of life and property when a tsunami strikes any U.S. state or territory” and b) resilient communities that are prepared for tsunami hazards”

 

Visit the NTHMP website.