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Tsunami Threat A Failed Test: IngramCraig Ingram, says a tsunami threat issued for East Gippsland coastal towns on Wednesday night highlights the need for the establishment of a strategic emergency alert system to warn residents immediately of imminent danger. By Craig Ingram - 16th July 2009 - Back to News The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre issued the tsunami alert for coastal areas of NSW, Tasmania, Victoria as well as Lord Howe and Norfolk islands at 7.46pm AEST. People in areas with threat of land inundation and flooding were strongly advised to go to higher ground or at least one kilometre inland. During the ensuing hours it was downgraded to a marine threat and later cancelled.
Mr Ingram said many residents were not alerted to the tsunami threat and it wasn’t until Thursday morning that they were aware of the potential impact on coastal towns.
"This was a test, and we have failed," Mr Ingram said.
"While there were broadcasts on radio and television to alert residents of the threat, many people may not have had their television or radio turned on at that time.
"A strategic disaster warning system needs to be implemented utilising the mobile phone network in tandem with television, radio and internet warnings.
"COAG agreed to a mobile telephone-based emergency warning system in April this year following the devastating bushfires, but it has restricted capacity.
"The system is limited to sending alert messages to a mobile phone user based upon information contained in their billing address. This would have been no use to someone from Melbourne holidaying in Mallacoota on Wednesday night – they would not have received the tsunami threat advice.
"The system should be based around alerting any mobile phone that is working off towers located in the target threat area. This technology does exist and systems have been developed and used with success overseas.
"I am thankful that this threat did not eventuate, but this must be used as an exercise to ascertain what measures we have in place and how we would have coped with such as disaster.
"To my knowledge, no action was taken at a local level to ensure residents were advised of the warnings, nor any emergency plan put in place.
"The implementation of a targeted alert system utilising technology that everyone has access to should be a priority and I have written to the Premier to stress this," Mr Ingram concluded.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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