David Richardson, Office of the Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency | Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released a study outlining tsunami risks in the United States, estimating over $1 billion in average annual losses and providing preparedness guidance for communities.
FEMA's report presents tsunami risk in practical terms for emergency managers and coastal residents. It pairs modeled loss estimates with clear preparedness actions such as evacuation planning and public education. By quantifying potential impacts, the report aims to assist jurisdictions in prioritizing cost-effective mitigation and readiness investments. This approach aligns with federal-state partnerships that respect local control while utilizing national tools like FEMA’s Tsunami Loss Viewer for planning and outreach.
According to FEMA, a central data point in the study indicates that tsunamis could generate "more than $1 billion in average annualized losses," a metric designed to spread expected damage over many years to guide benefit-cost analyses and budget planning. Average annualized loss (AAL) assists communities in comparing tsunami risk to other hazards and targeting limited funds toward life-safety improvements, particularly evacuation route enhancements, signage, and hardening of critical facilities in inundation zones where returns on mitigation are measurable.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), preparedness and mitigation are coordinated through the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. This federal-state partnership is led by NOAA with FEMA, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and others, encompassing 28 U.S. states and territories. The network provides technical support, mapping, and warning coordination to local agencies, enabling tailored evacuation plans and drills that reflect local geographies and travel times—critical for communities where minutes matter after strong ground shaking or an official tsunami alert.
FEMA was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It serves as the U.S. government's lead agency for coordinating disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across all hazards. Working through 10 regional offices with more than 20,000 personnel, it supports state, local, tribal, and territorial partners to build resilience by emphasizing scalable, locally led solutions and streamlined assistance programs that prioritize household safety and critical infrastructure continuity.
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