Map out where you would go—on foot, because roads will be flooded. After a tsunami. (Roads may be impassible, you’ll just contribute to the traffic jam, and you may not get to safety. Move to higher ground immediately, don't wait for a warning. Let us start with the lesson, perhaps: Don’t use a tsunami siren to warn about gusty winds. Tsunami Fact vs Fiction. Most people do not survive being swept into a tsunami. Fiction. Step 9: Save lives, not possessions. Upon returning to your boat after a tsunami hits land, be cautious because wave conditions may be severe and strong currents may exist for a period after the tsunami hits. The next wave may be larger than the first one. Do not wait for all of the natural warning signs (strong shaking, withdrawal of the sea, strange roar of the sea) to occur before leaving the beach. Fiction. During. Occasionally, tsunamis can form walls of water (known as tsunami bores) but tsunamis normally have the appearance of a fast-rising and fast-receding flood. A U.S. Marine helicopter loaded with food flies over Lampuuk in northern Sumatra after a tsunami killed most of the village's 7,000 residents–and nearly 230,000 people on … Read on. Immediately after a tsunami . (A tsunami may include several waves arriving over a period of hours.) Story highlights. The first step in escaping a tsunami is educating yourself, so find the “higher ground” now before it is too late. Do not stay in low-lying coastal areas after a strong earthquake has been felt. Don't assume the danger is over after the … Tell family and friends you're OK. Keep tuned in to official information sources or local media. A tsunami is a series of waves that may continue for hours. Fact. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. Disposing of Liquid Waste from Autopsies in Tsunami-Affected Areas pdf icon [PDF – 140kb] Management of Dead Bodies in Disaster Situations external icon From the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) MMWR: Health Concerns Associated with Disaster Victim Identification After a Tsunami — Thailand, Dec 26, 2004–Mar 31, 2005 Avoid disaster areas. With as little as 20 to 30 minutes before a tsunami hits, you must prepare now for what you’d do if you live near the coast. Hop in your car to get to higher ground. But there are a few ways you can protect yourself from these natural disasters. Tsunami warnings are usually issued by NOAA's Tsunami Warning Center, and it's important to tune in after an earthquake to find out whether a tsunami warning has been issued. After the wave crashes onto land, the water carries all kinds of debris back to sea, which may include a variety of toxic chemicals. Rush to the beach after the first wave to see what has washed up on shore. 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