About this Course

Understanding what tsunamis are is the first step to efficiently develop a tsunami response plan. This course focus on the development of a tsunami and its three principal phases. The purpose of this course is to briefly introduce the origin of tsunamis, the tsunami history in Puerto Rico (and the Virgin Islands) and the alert levels.

 

During this course, you may need to access the PRSN, and other resources; they are available in the top navigation menu under the “Resources” tab. After the last module, you have the option of completing a quiz to evaluate what you learned.

Module Objectives:

After completing this module, you will be able to:

    • Comprehend the characteristics of tsunamis and its impacts.
    • Identify historic tsunami events, such as the 1918 tsunami in the Caribbean.
    • Know the alert levels and their meanings.
    • Learn the actions that should be taken and each alerts assigned color.
    • Know the official authorities that are in charge of the dissemination of warnings and information during a tsunami event.

Modules

This course is divided into three (3) modules in which you are allowed to access content at your own pace and order. However, it is recommended that you begin with Module 1.

Module 1: What is a tsunami?

Knowing tsunamis and how they form is key to understanding the purpose of emergency plans and evacuation maps. Where the development, causes, and impacts of a tsunami are also covered in this module.

Module 2: Tsunamis in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

The purpose of this module is to inform the public on past tsunami events that have occurred in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Knowing how tsunamis affected the Caribbean can help us prepare for any future events.

Module 3: Tsunami Alerts

The purpose of this module is to educate people on how the alert levels work and what actions should be taken at each level in the case of a tsunami. This module contains a video which explains each level.