A tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves created by an underwater disturbance. Causes include earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, or meteorites--chunks of rock from space that strike the surface of Earth. A tsunami can move hundreds of miles per hour in the open ocean. It can smash into land with waves as high as 100 feet or more and cause devastating floods. Drowning is the most common cause of death related to a tsunami.
Although there are no guarantees of safety during a tsunami, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Tsunami(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tsunami/index.shtm
- Tsunamis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/tsunamis/
- Preparing for Events, Tsunami(American Red Cross) - http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=740d5d795323b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
- Tsunami Hazards: A National Threat(U.S. Geological Survey) - http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3023/2006-3023.pdf
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Tsunami: the Great Waves(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/tsunami.htm
Also available in Spanish http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/files/grandes_olas_sp.pdf
- Article: Posttraumatic stress disorder of the Tsunami survivors in Thailand. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19301738&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Assessment of psychopathological consequences in children at 3 years after... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19253499&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Psychiatric disorders in children at one year after the tsunami... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19253496&tool=MedlinePlus
- Tsunamis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(tidal+waves[mh]+OR+tsunami*[tiab])+AND+disasters[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Tsunami Glossary(UNESCO) - Large PDF file - http://ioc3.unesco.org/itic/files/tsunami_glossary_en_small.pdf
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
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Federal Emergency Management Agency - http://www.fema.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.fema.gov/spanish/index_spa.shtm
- FEMA Kids: Tsunami(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.fema.gov/kids/tsunami.htm
- Coping with Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html
- Disaster Preparation and Recovery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasterpreparationandrecovery.html
- Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasters.html
Tsunamis - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/tsunamis.html