Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Rayburn House Office Building 2325
12:00 - 1:30 PM

Invitation Flyer

Video of the Briefing (YouTube)

The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed over 230,000 people and displaced 1.7 million across 14 countries, was a wake-up call for nations around the world, stimulating governments to address tsunami hazards. In the United States, Congress passed legislation to improve tsunami warning systems, preparation and education. In the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, critical questions remain: How can we better understand the causes and characteristics of tsunamis? How can we use this information to provide better warnings? How can we prepare communities to more effectively respond and recover from potentially devastating events? 

Speakers:

Eddie Bernard, Scientist Emeritus, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Local Tsunami Warnings: Can the U.S. Do It?

John Orcutt, Distinguished Professor of Geophysics at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Tsunami Warning and Preparedness: An Assessment of the U.S. Tsunami Program and Tsunami Preparedness

John Schelling, Earthquake/Tsunami Program Manager for Washington State Emergency Management Division
State & National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Programs: Increasing our Nation's Overall Resilience to Tsunamis