Dissemination of information and evacuation procedures in the 2004-2007 tsunamis, including the 2004 Indian Ocean

Three steps taken to obtain information, make the decision to escape and complete safe evacuation were identified from field investigations and interviews of survivors of the 2004-2007 tsunamis in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Three kinds of knowledge gaps among the people and experts caused a delay in evacuation even though they received warnings of the tsunamis. The response to such a disaster should be related to a balance between recognition of the tsunami warning and evaluation of individual risk bias. For an appropriate tsunami warning, the tsunami information in the system should be selected and modified to overcome risk bias, which should be reduced and unified by public awareness and education, including creation of hazard maps designed by both natural and social scientists.