Community Resiliency Efforts through the U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

The U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) comprises representatives from U.S. coastal states, territories, and commonwealths and federal agencies who, under the guidance of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Weather Service (NWS), work together to develop protocols and products that help communities prepare for and mitigate tsunami hazards. The NTHMP framework provides a stable, over-arching platform for collaboration among the state and territory programs to implement robust, long-term education programs and tsunami preparedness plans at the most important place: the community level. The NTHMP works to reduce potential casualties, damage, and disruption from future tsunami disasters, and supports creative and collaborative efforts to produce safe, resilient, and adaptive communities when tsunamis strike. Three subcommittees of the NTHMP organize the activities of this multistate and multiagency partnership. These subcommittees help bridge the gap between physical and social science research and the needs of local government agencies to mitigate impacts from tsunami hazards. Mapping and Modeling Subcommittee work results in development of tools that forecast tsunami impact on people and property, and assist communities to plan and build for resiliency. Inundation, evacuation, and other hazard reduction map products clearly indicate who and what is at risk to inform decision-making by community and state-level leaders. Mitigation and Education Subcommittee activities improve tsunami awareness, outreach, preparedness, response, and recovery effectiveness. This is achieved by fostering NTHMP partnerships as a means to share and integrate practical preparedness efforts among state, territory, and federal programs and apply that to tsunami risk reduction activities. Warning Coordination Subcommittee action improves the effectiveness of the U.S. Tsunami