Module Overview

The purpose of this module is to understand how tsunami alerts work and how one should react to each level during a tsunamigenic event.

Module Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

    • Know the meaning of each alert level and the official agencies in charge of the dissemination of information.
    • Identify the colors and its associations in the PRSN website header.
    • Think of the actions to be taken by the community in relations with each alert level.
    • Understand how alert levels are disseminated.

Who provides the alert news to Puerto Rico?

The Tsunami Warning Center for Puerto Rico and The Virgin Islands is the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, based in Hawaii. The PTWC, usually abbreviated as the PTWC, receives seismic data from the Puerto Rico Seismic Network as well as other global networks in real-time to monitor the Caribbean and Pacific Regions for earthquakes that could generate a tsunami. While the official tsunami warning center for Puerto Rico is the PTWC, on the island there are tsunami warning focal points whose job it is to disseminate the alert level determined by the PTWC to the public and activate the local tsunami plans if needed. The primary tsunami warning focal point for Puerto Rico is the Puerto Rico State Emergency Management Agency. The Puerto Rico Seismic Network and the National Weather Service in San Juan act as Tsunami Warning Focal Point Alternates or essentially back up for the primary tsunami warning focal point. In practice for any tsunami alert the tsunami warning center and tsunami warning focal points will transmit tsunami alerts. The Tsunami Warning Center and the Tsunami Warning Focal Points are the official information for tsunami alerts in Puerto Rico.

What is a tsunami alert and what actions need be taken?

Did you understand the meaning of each alert? The most important thing to remember is that if you are in doubt, you can assist yourself by accessing the Puerto Rico Seismic Network website. The banner in the website makes reference to its alert level.

How to know if you are located in a tsunami evacuation zone?

Thanks to work done by the TsunamiReady Program, researchers at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, Puerto Rico has tsunami evacuation maps available for all coastal municipalities as well as 2 interior municipalities that can be impacted by tsunami events. All the maps are available online on the Puerto Rico Seismic Network webpage in either print format for individual municipalities or an interactive format via the online map tool (http://maptool.uprm.edu). The maps themselves and how to read them will be covered in detail in another lesson.

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Knowledge Check

Test your knowledge about this topic by answering the following questions. You can review the correct responses by hovering your mouse over the boards with the word “Answer.” Some questions require reviewing images.

1. Who communicates the tsunami alerts?

Answer

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center informs any tsunami activity and the Puerto Rico Emergency Management communicates the alert to the public.

2. Mention the 4 alert levels.

Answer

1) Information Statement 2) Watch 3) Advisory 4) Warning

3. What is the difference between the a tsunami advisory and a tsunami warning?

Answer

A tsunami advisory presents risk to the maritime community: a tsunami warning present risks to the coastal community and one must evacuate.

Apply

See the notification box below to apply what you learned. Afterward, you can choose to continue with the next module or take a break and come back at another time.

Use the opportunity! Share the alert levels used in Puerto Rico and it’s meaning when a topic of tsunamis appear on TV or Social Media.

Quiz