PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALASKA REGION
1200 PM ADT TUE AUG 5 2003

TO:       TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM PARTICIPANTS IN ALASKA...
          WASHINGTON... OREGON... AND CALIFORNIA... INCLUDING
          STATE WARNING POINTS OR EOCS... LOCAL EMERGENCY
          MANAGEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL... EAS
          PARTICIPANTS... US COAST GUARD... RESCUE COORDINATION
          CENTERS... FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTERS AND SELECT
          AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS... MEDIA PARTNERS...
          AND NWS PERSONNEL

FROM:     PAUL WHITMORE
          GEOPHYSICIST-IN-CHARGE
          WEST COAST AND ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER


SUBJECT:  TSUNAMI WARNING TEST SEPTEMBER 16 2003

EFFECTIVE TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 2003 AT 11 A.M. PACIFIC DAYLIGHT
TIME /PDT/... 10 A.M. ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME /ADT/... 1800
COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME /UTC/... THE WEST COAST AND ALASKA
TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER /WCATWC/ WILL CONDUCT A TSUNAMI WARNING
TEST.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS TEST IS TO PROVIDE A REALISTIC TSUNAMI
WARNING SCENARIO FOR USE IN LOCAL AND/OR STATEWIDE DRILLS
COORDINATED BETWEEN EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.

WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES /WFO/ ALONG THE U.S. WEST COAST AND IN
ALASKA WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS TEST BY DISSEMINATING THE TSUNAMI
WARNING PRODUCT IN COASTAL AREAS VIA NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND
THROUGH OTHER LOCAL WARNING SYSTEMS TO EMERGENCY OFFICIALS... THE
MEDIA... AND THE PUBLIC.  WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES PARTICIPATING
IN THE TEST ARE LISTED IN TABLE 1.

TABLE 1 - WFOS PARTICIPATING IN TSUNAMI WARNING TEST.

SAN DIEGO CA
LOS ANGELES CA
MONTEREY CA
EUREKA CA
MEDFORD OR
PORTLAND OR
SEATTLE WA
JUNEAU AK
ANCHORAGE AK

THE TSUNAMI WARNING PRODUCT IDENTIFIER TO BE USED IN THIS TEST IS
WEPA41 PAAQ... AND THE AWIPS ID IS TSUWCA.

PARTICIPATING WFOS WILL CONDUCT A FOLLOW UP SERVICE EVALUATION.
IN ADDITION TO REVIEWING THE EFFICIENCY OF THEIR OFFICE
OPERATIONS...THEY WILL CONTACT AND INTERVIEW PRINCIPLE
PARTNERS.  THIS INCLUDES THE MEDIA...EMERGENCY MANAGERS...AND IF
POSSIBLE THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

NOTE: IN THE CASE OF REAL EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY OR HAZARDOUS
WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SEPTEMBER 16... THE NWS WILL POSTPONE AND
RESCHEDULE THIS TEST.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS... PLEASE CONTACT

     AIMEE DEVARIS
     ALASKA REGION WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
     PHONE: 907-271-3507
     EMAIL: AIMEE.DEVARIS@NOAA.GOV

EXAMPLES OF THE TSUNAMI WARNING PRODUCTS TO BE USED IN THIS TEST
MAY BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT /USE LOWER CASE/

     HTTP://WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV/DEFINITION.HTM

GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION... INCLUDING THE ACTIONS YOU SHOULD
TAKE WHEN A TSUNAMI WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA MAY BE FOUND
AT /USE LOWER CASE/

     HTTP://WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV/SAFETY.HTM

$$
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