Tsunami Warning - How are people alerted?

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CdTDroiD

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#490631 7-Jul-2011 15:21

stuzz:
CdTDroiD: Surly all the mobile providers could send a TXT to all if alerted. would be a good start. otherwise just run when you see a big wave?

We were discussing at work that it could surely be a response from the cell network providers to a geographical area. Surely they can do a targeted broadcast

Totally you get txts all the time about stupid "specials" lol so why not a Tsunami warning, surly that would be just as important as $10 TXT DEALS

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jaymz

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#490634 7-Jul-2011 15:21

Oblivian: You have to get something clear here. It Was NOT, that is NOT a tsunami warning.

It was a potential thread advisory.

There is a large difference.

My bad, i should have said advisory.

However, back to the alerting issue.

One problem that I can see with SMS, if the earthquake occurs on land and knocks out power, mobile sites will be overloaded and the txt may not get through.

It is interesting that there hasnt been a national "this is what will happen if a tsunami occurs" warning system mentioned. Seeing as we are a "island" nation (island used the the loosely) it does seem a bit of an oversight.

CdTDroiD

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#490636 7-Jul-2011 15:22

codyc1515:
stuzz:
CdTDroiD: Surly all the mobile providers could send a TXT to all if alerted. would be a good start. otherwise just run when you see a big wave?

We were discussing at work that it could surely be a response from the cell network providers to a geographical area. Surely they can do a targeted broadcast

I do believe they could do this, but I'm not sure if they would have something like this setup. Also, imagine if it was in a place such as Auckland with many, many phones: I am quite sure it would overload the network.

Very good point, thats alot of txt's going out at once...

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codyc1515

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#490639 7-Jul-2011 15:25

CdTDroiD:
codyc1515:
stuzz:
CdTDroiD: Surly all the mobile providers could send a TXT to all if alerted. would be a good start. otherwise just run when you see a big wave?

We were discussing at work that it could surely be a response from the cell network providers to a geographical area. Surely they can do a targeted broadcast

I do believe they could do this, but I'm not sure if they would have something like this setup. Also, imagine if it was in a place such as Auckland with many, many phones: I am quite sure it would overload the network.

Very good point, thats alot of txt's going out at once...

I think the network can initiate an USSD message, maybe that would work better?

stuzz

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#490641 7-Jul-2011 15:25

CdTDroiD:
codyc1515:
stuzz:
CdTDroiD: Surly all the mobile providers could send a TXT to all if alerted. would be a good start. otherwise just run when you see a big wave?

We were discussing at work that it could surely be a response from the cell network providers to a geographical area. Surely they can do a targeted broadcast

I do believe they could do this, but I'm not sure if they would have something like this setup. Also, imagine if it was in a place such as Auckland with many, many phones: I am quite sure it would overload the network.

Very good point, thats alot of txt's going out at once...

If it was done on a cell site by site starting at the waterfront inwards. Obviously there are issues like over loading to consider, but in a real event that is soon going to happen anyway.

codyc1515

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#490644 7-Jul-2011 15:27

stuzz:
CdTDroiD:
codyc1515:
stuzz:
CdTDroiD: Surly all the mobile providers could send a TXT to all if alerted. would be a good start. otherwise just run when you see a big wave?

We were discussing at work that it could surely be a response from the cell network providers to a geographical area. Surely they can do a targeted broadcast

I do believe they could do this, but I'm not sure if they would have something like this setup. Also, imagine if it was in a place such as Auckland with many, many phones: I am quite sure it would overload the network.

Very good point, thats alot of txt's going out at once...

If it was done on a cell site by site starting at the waterfront inwards. Obviously there are issues like over loading to consider, but in a real event that is soon going to happen anyway.

How about changing the network name on the phone from, e.g. vodafone NZ to EQ WARNING.? This information gets passed on to the phone anyway, so no overloading issues.

CdTDroiD

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#490645 7-Jul-2011 15:35

How about changing the network name on the phone from, e.g. vodafone NZ to EQ WARNING.? This information gets passed on to the phone anyway, so no overloading issues.

Would easily go unnoticed though...

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nickb800

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#490662 7-Jul-2011 16:08

stuzz:
CdTDroiD: Surly all the mobile providers could send a TXT to all if alerted. would be a good start. otherwise just run when you see a big wave?

We were discussing at work that it could be a response from the cell network providers to a geographical area. Surely they can do a targeted broadcast

After chch quakes in feb they did that, phones connected to cell sites near the east, cbd & lyttleton received CD texts that werent sent to those on the west side. These were general advisories about welfafe etc, id imagine there would be some delay in bulk texting every single phone on a cell site

AFAIK tsunami warnings are issues centrally (MCDEM with info from USGS, NOAA, etc) and implemented locally (local council's siren systems for example) or through the media.

I think the major tsunami hazard for our island is from a tsunami originating well offshore, e.g. south america, which would be fairly predictable, taking many hours to reach our shore. There is still a risk of locally generated tsunami's, caused by quakes which would be felt onshore, but these would only give minutes of warning, so once processing time is taken into account, a warning system for these would seem futile. Hence the advice for those living near the shore to GTFO if they feel a big quake

tdgeek

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#490811 7-Jul-2011 21:37

Of similar interest, Japan uses texts to alert earthquakes.

The first wave is a P wave (Primary), this is the first shockwave, it is more sound and horizontal vibration I believe, so it travels faster, and can be picked up before the physical shockwave hits, the S wave. The P wave offers less vibration, but when picked up, Japan texts the population. The S wave may arrive 10 seconds later, maybe less maybe more depending on distance to the epicentre, and every seconds warning are lives saved. The S wave is the shaking. In short, the sound arrives before the shock.

Sorry, back to topic!

ANglEAUT

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#490858 7-Jul-2011 23:46

Hi.
For coastal areas, there are sirens similar to this fromt the Northland Regional Council: http://www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence/Tsunami/Tsunami-sirens/
NRC and other councils provide text alerts: http://www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence/Text-message-alerts/ This is provided by http://www.optn.co.nz/civil-defence/.

I also follow MCDEM via Twitter and have posts sent to my mobile: https://twitter.com/#!/NZcivildefence Their updates aren't always helpful; i.e. I hear from the media fist, they have lost of header info about the event and the actual msg doesn't fit into 140 characters; but hey, at least I know something is up & now official.

My cell phone also has a radio that I regularly listen too. I don't watch enough TV to know what is available, but they do seem to have regular updates once the event has happened.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

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