#GetToHighGround is the hashtag, unifying thread, that will connect the multidisciplinary activities organized in different nations on November 5, World Tsunami Awareness Day 2022 (WTAD 2022).
WTAD 2022 focuses attention on "Target G" of the Sendai Protocol for:
"a significant increase in the availability of multi-hazard early warning systems that enable communities to quickly learn about potential disaster risk."
Indeed, an effective tsunami early warning system works when it is able to reach all people at risk by finding a community aware and ready to quickly response to the alert.
In this perspective, between Friday, November 4 and Sunday, November 6, INGV and the Tsunami Warning Center will be involved in several "Table Top" and "Field" activities. Among them:
- The "Straits Earthquake 2022" exercise.
On Nov. 4, around 10 a.m. (local time), an earthquake (M6.2) causing a local tsunami warning will be simulated for the coasts of southern Calabria (Reggio Calabria province) and northern Sicily (Messina province). The earthquake will activate the Tsunami Warning Center services, which has developed a hypothetical scenario for the occasion.
The scenario consists of sending an initial Advisory Alert message and consequently a Cancellation message. - Civil Protection activities (More information here)
Following the earthquake and tsunami alert issuance, the National Civil Protection will simulate some "field" and "table top" emergency activities to test territorial structures and communication channels. - IT-ALERT Cell Broadcast Test (For more information about it).
The tsunami alert simulation will activate the National IT-Alert Public Alert System that will send a TEST message (alert notification) to the mobile phones of several hundred thousand citizens living in the coastal municipalities of Calabria and Sicily involved in the exercise. - Activities in Tsunami Ready candidate municipalities:
Minturno municipality in Latium region, a Tsunami Ready candidate, is organizing two field activities to raise awareness among students at two schools located in inundation areas in case of a tsunami. Students from Gianni Rodari Primary School and Angelo De Santis Middle School will carry out an emergency vertical evacuation by moving to the upper floors of the school buildings. Following the drill, INGV researchers, will give a lesson/debriefing on the drill conducted and the tsunami risk.
Palmi (RC) in Calabria: the municipality, a Tsunami Ready candidate, will participate in the "Strait Earthquake 2022" exercise since it is located in the area affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
Pachino-Marzamemi (SR) in Sicily: the municipality will not participate in the Nov. 4-6 drills. They will conduct a specific tsunami risk drill on November 26, 2022.