San Mateo County is stepping up its emergency preparedness game with a new tool for residents and visitors, providing a high-tech approach to tsunami awareness. An online "Tsunami Hazard Area Dashboard" has been rolled out, aiming to offer real-time insights into potential tsunami risks along the coast and bay communities. This development comes from website crashes after a tsunami alert last December, indicating that more robust resources were needed.
As per San Mateo County, "We cannot control emergencies, but we can control our preparedness," said County Supervisor Lisa Gauthier during the dashboard’s launch. The tool attempts proactivity in a region where tsunamis are uncommon yet not impossible. With the dashboard in place, residents don't have to wait for an emergency to assess their risk factors; they can do so at their convenience.
The nature of tsunamis is such that they may go unnoticed in deep ocean waters, yet as they approach the shore, their power increases, posing a significant danger to coastal areas. "We are working with community and response partners throughout the county to ensure everyone knows how to use the tsunami dashboard before an emergency happens," Gauthier emphasized, per San Mateo County's website.
The timing of the dashboard's unveiling was strategic, coinciding with Tsunami Awareness Week. This week includes drills and informational activities designed to test and enhance the region's preparedness for a tsunami event. Residents are encouraged to understand the National Weather Service alerts, which range from Tsunami Watches to Tsunami Warnings. In an urgent call to action, "What you can do today is log on to this dashboard, see if you are in a tsunami hazard zone or not, whether that’s work, home or play, and get your 72-hour kits prepared," said Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, San Mateo County's Emergency Management director, as cited by the San Mateo County.
