More than 400 people were killed after a tsunami struck in Indonesia on Dec 22, 2018 and that was just one. Tsunamis are large, unbroken tidal waves which are usually caused by an underwater explosion resulting from volcanic activity, earthquakes or glacier clavings. Tsunamis not only pose a huge threat to civilian life, but they can also affect businesses and supply chains. This week is Tsunami Awareness Week and we want to make sure that you have some tips to be prepared for yourself and for your supply chain.
Tsunamis are often unpredictable which means planning for them can often seem impossible. Our first tip is to make sure to watch for warning signs. These include rapidly rising or falling coastal waters, low rumblings of a seaquake or earthquake on land or abnormal ocean activity. Along with this make sure to listen to and heed any warning signs or signals.
In the event of a tsunami you need to make sure to have an evacuation strategy. This is our next tip, learn multiple evacuation routes. Make sure that you and your employees know and are familiar with evacuation routes. You can do this by posting them in the break room or common room and making sure that your address system is in good working order.
This tip can also work for your supply chain, make sure to have suppliers in multiple different locations or suppliers that can fill in if your main source is down. The states in the U.S. at greatest risk for tsunamis are Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. If all of your suppliers are in any of these states it might be good to consider a secondary source.
Once the tsunami has passed and disaster recovery begins you should immediately contact your insurance and begin to assess any damage. You will want to make sure that your business is able to try to continue while keeping in mind that damage restoration could likely take weeks or longer.
Tsunamis can bring devastation across the world, however, with proper preparation you can ease this devastation for you, your employees, and your business.