NOAA NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO CONDUCT LIMITED TSUNAMI WARNING COMMUNICATIONS TEST ALONG U.S. WEST COAST

Sept. 11, 2006 — The NOAA National Weather Service will conduct a limited communications test of the Tsunami Warning System in the coastal areas of California, Oregon and Washington on Wednesday, September 13, between 10:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. (Click NOAA illustration for larger view of tsunami communications test for the West Coast of the USA. Click here for high resolution version. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, located in Palmer, Alaska, will disseminate a special test tsunami warning message. The message will be clearly labeled as a test. Upon receipt of the test message, NOAA National Weather Service offices responsible for western coastal areas will broadcast a brief message via NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, describing the purpose of the test, using the "Routine Monthly Test" (RMT) code. The actual Tsunami Warning code (EAS code TSW) will not be used for this test.

The general public can participate in the test by monitoring NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards. Media outlets responsible for relaying emergency information may relay the test information.

Officials will evaluate the success of the test and correct any problems. To assist in this process, people in coastal areas should monitor their NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards during the test and provide feedback online.

If there is excessive seismic activity on September 13, the test will be cancelled. Units that receive the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards signal are available at many electronic retail stores, marine supply stores, mail order catalogs and the Internet. Prices vary by model and available options but typically range between $20 and $80.

In 2007 NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of science and service to the nation. Starting with the establishment of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. The agency is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

NOAA Tsunami Portal

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

Media Contact:
Dennis Feltgen, NOAA National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622 ext. 127