Tsunami Safety Guide

Recognising natural tsunami warnings, evacuation to high ground, and what to do if you are caught in the water.

Compiled from official emergency-management guidance (FEMA/Ready.gov, IFRC, WHO, national agencies) · Reviewed by the WND Editorial Team · Last reviewed:

Key action: If you feel strong or long shaking at the coast, see the sea suddenly recede, or hear an official warning — move immediately to high ground or inland. Do not wait for confirmation. The first wave is often not the largest.

Before the event

  • Know if your home, school or workplace is in a tsunami hazard zone and how high above sea level you are.
  • Learn the natural warning signs: strong/long earthquake shaking, unusual sea withdrawal, loud ocean roar.
  • Identify evacuation routes to ground at least 30 m high or 3 km inland, walkable in 15 minutes.
  • Prepare a grab-and-go bag; practise the walk with your family, including at night.
  • Sign up for official tsunami alerts (national warning centre, cell broadcast).

During the event

  • Natural warning observed? GO immediately — do not wait for sirens or official messages.
  • Evacuate on foot; roads jam within minutes.
  • Move to high ground or, if trapped, to the upper floor or roof of a sturdy concrete building.
  • Stay away from rivers and streams — tsunamis travel far up channels.
  • At sea in a boat: head to deep water (over ~180 m); do not return to port.
  • If caught in the water: grab something that floats and go with the current until you can climb higher.
  • Stay out of the hazard zone until officials declare all-clear — waves continue for hours.

After the event

  • Wait for the official all-clear; later waves can arrive hours after the first.
  • Avoid floodwater: it hides debris, sewage and electrical hazards.
  • Stay clear of damaged buildings, bridges and ports until inspected.
  • Help injured people where safe; many survivors need rescue from water and debris.
  • Follow official guidance on drinking-water safety — supplies are often contaminated.

Emergency kit checklist

  • Grab-bag light enough to run with: water, energy food, torch, whistle
  • Waterproof pouch: documents, cash, emergency contacts
  • Medications, glasses, power bank
  • Warm layer and rain protection
  • Sturdy shoes stored where you sleep

Evacuation guidance

  • Evacuate vertically (height) over distance where high ground is far.
  • Do not evacuate by car unless authorities specifically direct it.
  • Assist neighbours who cannot move fast — plan this in advance.
  • Take pets only if it does not delay your evacuation.

What NOT to do

  • Do NOT go to the beach to watch a tsunami — if you can see the wave, you are too close to escape.
  • Do NOT wait for an official warning if you feel strong coastal shaking.
  • Do NOT return after the first wave; the sequence can last 12+ hours.
  • Do NOT drive through flooded roads.

Children, older people and people with disabilities

  • Plan assisted evacuation for people with limited mobility — identify who helps whom, and a wheeled option.
  • Teach children the natural warning signs and the family meeting point on high ground.
  • Coastal schools and care homes should have practised vertical-evacuation plans.

Pet safety

  • Keep a leash/carrier near the door in hazard zones.
  • If evacuation would be delayed, leave pets able to reach upper floors.

Frequently asked questions

How much time do I have after an earthquake before a tsunami arrives?

For a local earthquake it can be as little as 10–20 minutes — which is why you must move on natural warning signs alone. Distant-source tsunamis can take hours, giving warning centres time to issue alerts.

Can a small earthquake cause a tsunami?

Tsunamis are usually generated by strong undersea earthquakes (typically M7+), but underwater landslides and volcanic eruptions can also cause them — sometimes with little felt shaking. Treat any official warning seriously.

Disclaimer: general guidance compiled from official emergency-management recommendations (FEMA/Ready.gov, IFRC, WHO and national agencies). It does not replace instructions from your local authorities. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.