July 18, 2006
To the Honorable Governor
Mrs. Linda Lingle
Executive Chambers
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii
96813, U.S.A.
Dear Mrs. Governor,
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC)
acting on behalf of
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
issued the following inadequate and faulty tsunami warning
on Monday 17, July 2006 at 08.36 UTC:
“A DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT DOES NOT EXIST BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA. HOWEVER - THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL TSUNAMI
To the Honorable Governor
Mrs. Linda Lingle
Executive Chambers
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii
96813, U.S.A.
Dear Mrs. Governor,
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC)
acting on behalf of
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
issued the following inadequate and faulty tsunami warning
on Monday 17, July 2006 at 08.36 UTC:
“A DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT DOES NOT EXIST BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA. HOWEVER - THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOCAL TSUNAMI
THAT COULD AFFECT COASTS LOCATED USUALLY
NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED KILOMETERS
NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED KILOMETERS
FROM THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER.“
A few minutes later a huge utterly devastating wave washed ashore on the southern coast of Java at 240 km from the epicenter causing death and destruction.
The knowledge that tsunamis move over very long distances across the ocean together with the tsunami relevant parameters of the event: the shallow focal depth, the high magnitude of the underwater quake off the Indonesian coast (between 7-8 Mw = Major, Source: U.S. Geological Survey, NEIC) and the uncertainty concerning the teleseismic quakes' initial analysis by methods of automated computing, however, should have led to an instant and urgent tsunami red alert – exactly because of historical earthquake and tsunami data available. Such an alert should at least have been communicated to local TV and radio stations by fax, e-mail and telephone and not only published on the website of PTWC – such action would have provided the opportunity to take emergency measures and effective assistance, in other words WOULD HAVE HELPED MANY PEOPLE (BOTH LOCALS AND FOREIGNERS) TO SURVIVE. But regrettably it didn’t happen like that. Such a warning never reached the local people or tourists on Java's south coast. Nobody warned the threatened people in the danger area – many of them had to die, many lives were lost (see the death toll!) – the result not only of a tsunami but also – and even more so – of non-effectiveness of the American tsunami warning system now and in the past.
Although the American Pacific Tsunami Warning System with 26 members has been in existence since 1965 it had not seriously been tested till May 2006 (over 40 years). Neither regular alarm exercises for proper behavior during a tsunami catastrophe nor training of personnel or the public have been carried out. Absence of local communication, no plans for evacuations, lack of correct rules relating to development schemes and construction activity near the coastline spotlight inexistent tsunami disaster preventive measures and reactive warning gaps.
In view of its incompetence and gross negligence the office in question has itself turned out to be the real threat to maritime and coastal security to countless human lives. It must be stressed that the law in force has not been respected. As this isn’t the first instance of this sort of failure (cf. the tsunami disaster of Dec. 26, 2004), a permanent pattern seems to have established itself.
You are the head of the state bureaucracy and consequently the ultimate authority. I therefore wish to ask you to take appropriate disciplinary steps leading to the dismissal of those responsible and order an inquiry and take legal action by the law in force.
I would appreciate to receive an answer.
A few minutes later a huge utterly devastating wave washed ashore on the southern coast of Java at 240 km from the epicenter causing death and destruction.
The knowledge that tsunamis move over very long distances across the ocean together with the tsunami relevant parameters of the event: the shallow focal depth, the high magnitude of the underwater quake off the Indonesian coast (between 7-8 Mw = Major, Source: U.S. Geological Survey, NEIC) and the uncertainty concerning the teleseismic quakes' initial analysis by methods of automated computing, however, should have led to an instant and urgent tsunami red alert – exactly because of historical earthquake and tsunami data available. Such an alert should at least have been communicated to local TV and radio stations by fax, e-mail and telephone and not only published on the website of PTWC – such action would have provided the opportunity to take emergency measures and effective assistance, in other words WOULD HAVE HELPED MANY PEOPLE (BOTH LOCALS AND FOREIGNERS) TO SURVIVE. But regrettably it didn’t happen like that. Such a warning never reached the local people or tourists on Java's south coast. Nobody warned the threatened people in the danger area – many of them had to die, many lives were lost (see the death toll!) – the result not only of a tsunami but also – and even more so – of non-effectiveness of the American tsunami warning system now and in the past.
Although the American Pacific Tsunami Warning System with 26 members has been in existence since 1965 it had not seriously been tested till May 2006 (over 40 years). Neither regular alarm exercises for proper behavior during a tsunami catastrophe nor training of personnel or the public have been carried out. Absence of local communication, no plans for evacuations, lack of correct rules relating to development schemes and construction activity near the coastline spotlight inexistent tsunami disaster preventive measures and reactive warning gaps.
In view of its incompetence and gross negligence the office in question has itself turned out to be the real threat to maritime and coastal security to countless human lives. It must be stressed that the law in force has not been respected. As this isn’t the first instance of this sort of failure (cf. the tsunami disaster of Dec. 26, 2004), a permanent pattern seems to have established itself.
You are the head of the state bureaucracy and consequently the ultimate authority. I therefore wish to ask you to take appropriate disciplinary steps leading to the dismissal of those responsible and order an inquiry and take legal action by the law in force.
I would appreciate to receive an answer.
Yours truly,
mgr Jerzy
Chojnowski
Chairman of
Chairman of
The German
Tsunami Victims’ Response Group e.V.
www.gtvrg.de
************************************************
GERMAN TSUNAMI VICTIMS RESPONSE GROUP
WORKING TO PREVENT MAN-MADE DISASTERS
Anyone can contribute. Donate and help our association.
Account for Donations: www.gtvrg.de
******************************************************
www.gtvrg.de
************************************************
GERMAN TSUNAMI VICTIMS RESPONSE GROUP
WORKING TO PREVENT MAN-MADE DISASTERS
Anyone can contribute. Donate and help our association.
Account for Donations: www.gtvrg.de
******************************************************
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