HR: 10:35h
AN: OS21D-02    [PDF]
TI: Puerto Rico Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Program
AU: * Huerfano, V A
EM: victor@rmsismo.uprm.edu
AF: Puerto Rico Seismic Network, University of Puerto Rico at Mayag\"uez, Box 9017, Mayag\"uez, PR 00681 Puerto Rico
AU: Mercado, A
EM: amercado@rmofcis.uprm.edu
AF: Marine Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico at Mayag\"uez., Box 9013, Mayag\"uez, PR 00681 Puerto Rico
AU: von Hillebrandt, C G
EM: christa@midas.uprm.edu
AF: Puerto Rico Seismic Network, University of Puerto Rico at Mayag\"uez, Box 9017, Mayag\"uez, PR 00681 Puerto Rico
AB: The circum-Caribbean region has a documented history of large damaging tsunamis that have affected coastal areas, including the events of the Virgin Islands in 1867 and Mona Passage in 1918. These tsunamis have been triggered by large tsunamigenic earthquakes that deformed the ocean floor. The seismic water waves originating in the prominent fault system around PR are considered to be a near-field hazard for Puerto Rico and the Virgin islands (PR/VI) because they can reach coastal areas within a few minutes after the earthquake. Sources for regional and tele tsunamis have also been identified. To help mitigate the risk of potential tsunamis on the coastal communities of Puerto Rico, with initial funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), the Puerto Rico Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Program (PRTWMP) was established in 2000. Three of the main tasks are to evaluate the possibility of establishing a Tsunami Warning System (TWS), prepare tsunami flood maps and education. The need to establish a system of rapid notification for tsunami alerting in the Caribbean region has been recognized by the emergency management and scientific community. Presently, the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN) of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagez is establishing a Tsunami Warning System (TWS) for PR/VI. Part of the TWS is the EarlyBird system, developed by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, which has been running in the PRSN since January, 2003. This program automatically locates and disseminates information on potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes. Also, the existing protocol for exchanging data and information on potentially tsunamigenic events in the PR/VI is currently being reviewed by the concerned institutions. Tsunami flood maps were prepared for all of Puerto Rico, including the island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra. These flood maps were generated in three phases. First, hypothetical tsunami scenarios on the basis of the parameters of potential underwater earthquakes were developed. Secondly, each of these earthquakes source scenarios was simulated. The third step was to determine the worst case scenario for a tectonically generated tsunami throughout Puerto Rico. The runups were drawn on GIS referenced topographic maps and aerial photographs. These products are being used by the local, state and federal emergency managers to educate the public and develop mitigation strategies. Based on these maps tsunami warning signs are being installed throughout the potentially affected zones and are a very important component of the TWS.
DE: 4564 Tsunamis and storm surges
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting