The International Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ITWS) and the
International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC) is one of the most
successful international scientific programs in disaster reduction. With
support from the United States and other Member Nations and with the
continuous sponsorhip and coordination by the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the program has been in operation
for more than 30 years. The program has the direct humanitarian
responsibility of mitigating the effects of tsunami disasters by saving
lives and protecting property. It has been made possible by UNESCO/IOC's
involvement, the generous contributions by the United States and through the
active coordination of the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC)
in Honolulu, Hawaii. Also, this successful disaster reduction program has
become possible because of the interest, generosity, and active
participation of many UNESCO/IOC Member Nations.

What did people do before the International Tsunami Warning System was
established?

Before the International Tsunami Warning System (ITWS) went into effect
there were not effective warning systems to alert the countries of the
Pacific of an impending tsunami threat.The tsunamis often struck populated
areas with no warning or evacuation. The data was not always shared among
nations of the Pacific. Communication channels had not been established for
the sharing of such data.

The lack of a warning system was responsible for extensive loss of life and
property. It was the great destruction caused by the May 1960 Chilean
tsunami which prompted a large number of countries and territories to join
the Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS), at least by contributing data and
information. It was the great Alaskan earthquake of 1964 which generated a
devastating tsunami that precipitated the need for an International Tsunami
Warning System (ITWS).
 
 

Historical Background

The great destruction and loss of life caused by the May 1960 Chilean
tsunami prompted a large number of countries and territories to inquire
about joining in a Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS). The great Alaskan
earthquake of 1964 generated another devastating tsunami that affected a
good part of the Pacific. This tsunami disaster focused additional attention
to the need for an International Tsunami Warning System under the auspices
of a United Nations organization.

In 1965, UNESCO/IOC, recognizing the importance of providing timely warnings
of the approach of potentially-catasthrophic tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean,
accepted the offer of the United States of America to undertake the
expansion of its existing National Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu,
Hawaii, to become the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC). The
U.S.Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii (PTWC) became the
headquarters of the International Pacific Tsunami Warning System. At the
same time, UNESCO/IOC, accepted the generous offers of other UNESCO/IOC
member countries to integrate their existing facilities and communications
into this System. The existing U.S. Warning Systems in Hawaii and in Alaska
(ATWC) were integrated with the Systems of Japan, USSR, Chile, and of other
regional centers, and became a truly International Tsunami Warning
System(ITWS).

The International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC) was signed into effect
by unanimous decision during UNESCO/IOC's special meeting at Honolulu,
Hawaii, April 27-30, 1965. At the same time, the International Coordination
Group for the Tsunami Warning System (ICG/ITSU) was established as a
subsidiary body of IOC. Represented at this special UNESCO/IOC
organizational meeting were Canada, Chile, Republic of China, France, Japan,
Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, United States of
America, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and Western Samoa. Many
international scientific, national and international organizations were
represented also, such as the Inter-American Geodetic Survey, the Tsunami
Committee of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, (IUGG), the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Ryuku Islands, and the Trust
Territory of the Pacific.
 

Under the direction and guidance of UNESCO/IOC, the International Tsunami
Information Centre was instrumental in increasing dramatically the
membership of ICG/ITSU. From the original six nations that joined ICG/ITSU
in 1965, twenty-eight nations are presently members of the International
Tsunami Warning System. The System utilizes numerous seismic and tidal
stations and satellite communications throughout the Pacific Ocean and
disseminates, on a real-time basis, tsunami watches and warnings to all the
countries and territories of the entire Pacific Basin. Many more UNESCO/IOC
Member Nations are expected to join ICG/ITSU and the Tsunami Warning System,
in the near future.
 

ITIC Mandate

ITIC's mandate and functions evolved and expanded over the years. Initially,
ITIC was given the general mandate of mitigating the effects of Tsunamis
throughout the Pacific by supporting Member States of the ICG/ITSU in
developing and improving preparedness for tsunamis by monitoring and seeking
to improve the Tsunami Warning System for the Pacific; by gathering and
disseminating knowledge on tsunamis, and fostering tsunami research; by
bringing a knowledge of the Tsunami Warning System and ITIC to non-member
states, and information on how to become participants through ICG/ITSU; and
by conducting post-disaster surveys for the purpose of documentation and
understanding of the tsunami disaster. Later, the functions and
responsibilities of ITIC were expanded to include a number of other tsunami
disaster preparedness and education activities, aimed at disaster reduction.
ITIC Functions
Additional ITIC functions include:
a) Insuring the dissemination of tsunami
watches and warnings and the collection of tsunami information on a
real-time basis;
b) Giving technical advice on the equipment required for an
effective warning system and providing assistance in the establishement of
national warning systems;
c) Making periodic studies and assessment visits
to developing countries in order to evaluate their instrumentation
requirements, assess their performance, offer advice as appropriate, and
suggest avenues for assistance;
d) Evaluating the performance of the Tsunami
Warning System with regard to communications, data networks, and the
dissemination of warnings;
e) Coordinating the development of the observing
system which provides the information necessary for the issuance of
effective tsunami warnings to those nations wishing to receive such
messages.

Research and Data Collection Responsibilities

ITIC maintains a complete library of publications related to tsunamis. The
Centre also maintains a full file of data related to tsunamis as obtained
from WDC's and from the real-time Tsunami Warning System, to serve as part
of the basis for the information services, materials for visiting
scientists, and data compilations and summaries. To accomplish this task,
ITIC maintains close contact with IUGG (International Union Of Geodesy and
Geophysics) and many other national and international scientific
organizations. ITIC continuously monitors the results of current tsunami
research in order to find applications which may result in the improvement
of the International Tsunami Warning System.

Why is the International Tsunami Warning System (ITWS) and the International
Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) one of the most successful international
scientific programs in disaster reduction?

ITWS and ITIC are one of the most successful international scientific
programmes in disaster reduction for many reasons. Among them:

a) Insures dissemination of Tsunami Warnings throughout the Pacific,which
result in reduction in loss of life and property.

(The specific numbers of lives saved or property preserved cannot be
quantitatively estimated. However, since the formation of ITWS and ITIC all
major tsunami events have been detected and warnings have been disseminated.
All the tsunami data has been documented. Without these warnings and the
international cooperation and communications established byITWS and ITIC,
the death toll could be substantially higher. Without the data collected by
ITWS and ITIC our understanding of the tsunami disaster and its effects
would not be as comprehensive as it is. Without this understanding and
documentation, operational techniques of forecasting and warning could not
be as effectively implemented.

It is estimated that since the establishment of ITIC and the International
Tsunami Warning System, more thant thirty years ago, thousands of lives have
been saved and millions of dollars in property damage have been averted
because of the planning promoted by ITIC, and ICG/ITSU Member Nations.
However, specific figures cannot be provided)

b) Encourage applied type of research focusing on practical applications of
effective disaster warning services which directly benefit the countries of
the Pacific.

(For example such research has involved mathematical modelling which has
resulted in tsunami travel time charts and tsunami energy distribution,
giving accurate prediction of the destructive wave arrival, height
information, and extent of expected inundation. These applied research
results are then used by planners and policy makers in establishing criteria
for evacuation, and for coastal zone management.Such applications result in
greater safety and reduction of the effects of the tsunami disaster. Hilo,
Hawaii, is an example of such research that resulted in better zoning and
standards of construction.)

c) Promote the exchage of scientific and technical personnel and data among
the participating nations.

(This forms the basis for disaster assessment and reduction in each of the
participating countries. Training of scientists and technical personnel
results in better informed officials who in turn institute programs of
training and education which result in reduction of the hazard in their own
countries).

d) ITWS and ITIC contribute effectively in the preparation of materials for
public education and preparedness for the tsunami disaster in all the
participating nations of the Pacific.

(ITIC has spearheaded such educational efforts by publishing educational
materials, brochures, children's books which are used by member nations in
school and community programs in the countries that participate in the
Tsunami Warning System.)
 

Information from The Tsunami Page- Dr. George P.C.