1.    Learn the terms used by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC), responsible for tsunami warnings for California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), responsible for tsunami warnings for international authorities, Hawaii and USA territories in the Pacific.

o    Warning – An earthquake taken place in the Pacific that might generate a tsunami. The WC/ATWC and the PTWC will issue hourly announcements providing information about the situation.
o    Watch – A tsunami has been or could be generated, but is at least two hours away from the state in watch status.
o    Warning– A tsunami has been or could be generated and might be dangerous; therefore, people in the area are strongly warned to evacuate the area.

2.    Turn on your battery operated radio or television to listen to emergency information and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

3.    An immediate tsunami warning sometimes has the form of an observable receding of the water outside of the coast. This tsunami warning is related to its nature and must be obeyed by moving inland to a higher ground immediately.

4.    If you feel an earthquake in a coastal area, turn on your radio to verify if a tsunami warning has been issued.

5.    Have in mind that a small tsunami in can be a huge wave a few miles further. Coast and oceanic floor topography will influence the size of the wave.

6.    A tsunami may generate more than one wave. Do not allow a moderate sized wave make you forget how dangerous a tsunami is. The next wave might be larger.

7.    Prepare for a possible evacuation of the area. Learn evacuation routes. Determine where to go and how to get there if you need to evacuate the area.