Application of a Real-Time Tsunami Forecast System to the Disaster Response of Local Governments during a Major Tsunami Disaster

• Main Authors: Tomohiro Kubo, Wataru Suzuki, Masahiro Ooi, Narumi Takahashi, Kazumi Asao, Kaoru Yoshioka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
• Series: Geosciences
• Subjects: tsunami disaster response; real-time tsunami inundation forecast system; tabletop exercise; local government; PDCA cycle; standard operating procedure
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/2/102

We applied a real-time tsunami inundation forecast system to a disaster response plan. We developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for a tsunami disaster response based on a Plan, Do, Check, Action cycle to effectively use tsunami observation and prediction information provided by a real-time tsunami inundation forecast system during an initial response to a tsunami disaster. In the Plan stage, we ran a workshop on the tsunami disaster response to confirm the current tsunami disaster response plan and develop a timeline plan for a tsunami disaster. In the Do stage, we conducted a tabletop exercise (TTX) for a tsunami disaster using a real-time tsunami prediction system. In the Check stage, we ran a workshop on an after-action review of the TTX. In the Action stage, we applied the SOPs of the real-time tsunami prediction system to the tsunami disaster management plan and conducted a second TTX. As a result, we verified the information provided by a real-time tsunami prediction system to apply the system to a tsunami disaster management plan for real municipalities. It was confirmed that the SOP that we developed allows a real-time tsunami inundation forecast system to enable government staff to safely and effectively respond during a disaster.