Harbors, homes and boats were damaged and destroyed when the March 11th tsunami in Japan reached Hawaii's shorelines. A disaster state and county agencies had only hours to prepare for. If the same were to happen here, a simulation shows how quickly Hawaii would feel the impact.
"The one we worry about most is from the Kona coast. The first wave will hit Oahu in about 30 minutes," says Dr. Gerard Fryer, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
But, Dr. Fryer is confident a warning can be activated in a matter of minutes.
"We've got our procedures whittled to the point where we can get a message out in 3 minutes," he says.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says they learned a lesson in the March 11th tsunami, that it's not just one wave, instead a series of waves lasting 2 whole days that can do damage and be dangerous to boaters and swimmers.
Experts advise being aware of areas you frequent that are in coastal evacuation zones.(click HERE for a map)
"Too often we're in different locations and not familiar, and it's too easy to become panicked and disoriented," says Melvin Kaku, Honolulu Department of Emergency Management.
Hawaii residents also need to be pro-active in preparing for hurricanes.
"People could put in hurricane clips, a very reasonable and affordable thing to do, provides a lot of protection," says Dennis Hwang, University of hawaii Sea Grant College Program.
The recommendation is to also have at least a 5-7 day supply of food, water and medical needs in case of any natural disaster.
"Sometimes people think the government will come to the rescue, but if there's an event people will have to hold out on their own and it could be 2-3 weeks," says Hwang.
More disaster preparedness workshops across the state are planned for later this month and next, click HERE FOR DETAILS.
