In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says that since 2005 the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has “made progress in expanding and strengthening its tsunami warning and mitigation capabilities but faces challenges in both areas, as well as in moving its tsunami research to application.”

On the citizen and community preparedness front, the GAO urged NOAA to expand the TsunamiReady program and examine why participation has been limited among at risk areas:

“Although the number of TsunamiReady communities has increased from 27 in 2006 to 74 as of February 2010, overall participation in this voluntary program remains relatively low among the more than 760 communities identified as at risk for a tsunami. In this regard, GAO recommended in 2006 that NOAA conduct an assessment to identify potential barriers to program participation. Although NOAA has not yet conducted this assessment, GAO continues to believe that such an assessment is needed to help inform the agency’s strategic planning efforts.”

According to GAO, “NOAA reviewed a draft of this report and agreed with its recommendations.” You can find a podcast and transcript with the GAO staffer in charge of the report, Anu Mittal, here. (Thanks to the Natural Hazards Center for bringing the report to my attention.)