Handbook of tsunami evacuation planning : SCHEMA (Scenarios for Hazard-induced Emergencies Management), project n°030963, specific targeted research project, space priority

This handbook is dedicated to provide thorough and hands-on information and a fully-comprehensive methodology of tsunami evacuation plan generation. Hence community-employed decision makers or similar stakeholders are supplied with a detailed guideline to implement a fully-fledged evacuation plan within three stages: set-up of valid first instance of evacuation plan, mid-term revision, and long-term revision and integration. Local tsunami risk assessment and all subsequent implications on evacuation planning are based on (1) knowing the to-be-expected tsunami wave height, and (2) the to-be-expected arrival time of the first devastating tsunami wave. The first parameter helps to calculate the area at risk; the second parameter gives an indication of how fast the evacuation has to take place. Evacuation has to take place on a given network of suitable roads or paths. In this context, if necessary, the methodology foresees also the inclusion of additionally to be built escape routes and/or safe places. Moreover, the methodology explains how to implement a valid instance of evacuation plan by marking the identified escape routes and shelters in reality, and how to disseminate all information to the affected population. Within a midterm review the evacuation plan has to be maintained constantly and appropriate authority-own measures have to be guaranteed. The long-term review, finally, keeps track of all other information needed to run the evacuation plan properly: integration with early-warning systems, integration with other emergency plans, checking of legal obligations. The handbook also presents the results gathered during interviews with potentially affected persons (Setúbal case study) and concludes mentioning the difficulties and limitations that may arise during the generation of evacuation plans. This work has been realized in the framework of the FP6 European co-funded SCHEMA project (SCenarios for Hazard-induced Emergencies MAnagement, www.schemaproject.org).