Outcome:	Meteorology			Question No: 21
Output:  	
Division/Agency:	Bureau of Meteorology
Topic:	Tsunami warnings
Hansard Page ECITA:	113

Senator Webber asked:  
You said earlier that when the warning finally came through and four hours afterwards when the half-metre wave was detected there were a range of people that the bureau contacted, including emergency services. What steps were actually taken in relation to issuing warnings regarding coastal areas that may have been affected by any possible tidal surges or any other impacts?

Answer/s:  
Currently the Bureau of Meteorology, as the lead operational agency with responsibility for issuing tsunami warnings and advices to the Australian community, with support as required from Geoscience Australia (GA) and Emergency Management Australia (EMA), operates a limited Australian Tsunami Alert Service (ATAS).

On 26 December 2004 Tsunami Warnings were issued to all Western Australian Emergency Service organisations along the coast by standard warning communications, and where possible followed up by personal phone calls. Recipients of the warnings included the Western Australian Police Service (Operations Centre Perth and Northern Region Centre); the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) (Perth Headquarters, Geraldton, Carnarvon, Onslow, Karratha, Pilbara and Broome); the Royal Australian Navy at HMAS Stirling, HMAS Harold E Holt and at Darwin; RAAF Learmonth; Department of Planning and Infrastructure (Marine Division Fremantle), Port Authorities (Geraldton, Dampier, and Port Hedland); and Bureau Field Offices at Geraldton, Carnarvon, Port Hedland and Broome. 

Once the warnings had been issued, Bureau officers in the Perth Regional Forecasting Centre followed up with phone calls to known FESA and Police Units along the coast to reinforce the information. Those Bureau of Meteorology units in contact with industry also informed the companies, ranging from companies in the Dampier port area to the Bunbury Port Authority, of the situation. These advices are believed to have been effective in helping avoid unsafe ship loading and allowing safe operation of ports. Once emergency services personnel had been contacted, additional information on the impacts of the tsunami was included in the public coastal water warnings.