Kyota said Palau is ready and prepared for tsunami because the country has enough facilities to respond and to warn the public but the only problem is the possible delay in disseminating the information from the time it is received from Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii.
Kyota said Palau needs to strengthen the communication system to be able to respond quickly.“There could be a delay from the impact to the time they receive it and to the time they send us the warning and that’s the reason why we have this kind of workshop today to address the issue. As a nation we need to be prepared to issue warnings and respond to a tsunami hazard,” Kyota said at the tsunami warning and mitigation system workshop that started on Tuesday.Kyota added that the workshop is comprehensive and beneficial for Palau in a way that it will help the respond more effective.“This is the first tsunami workshop and a very comprehensive discussion. It will help strengthen our capacity in responding to tsunami warnings,”he said.The workshop started on Tuesday and will end today. Participants are from NEMO, Bureau of Public Safety, Japan Embassy, Ministry of Health, National Weather Service, Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Land and Survey, Marine Law Division Office, Ngchesar State, Melekeok, Hatohobei, Palau Red Cross, PALARIS, Bureau of Domestic Affairs, Palau Housing Authority, Palau Public Utilities Corp., Belau Tourism Association, Palau Royal Resort, Angaur, Peleliu, Palau National Communications Corp., private companies and media entities.The workshop is funded by the Australian Government Agency for International Development and tsunami warning experts from Australian Bureau of Meteorology facilitated the workshop to assess Palau’s capacity to receive, communicate and effectively respond to tsunami warnings.The participants conducted Risk assessment and warning dissemination activity to identify priorities and strategies in disseminating information and responding to tsunami warnings.Team leader and Pacific Tsunami capacity assessment Project Manager Cherie O’ Brien said that Palau is in threat of tsunami from both Philippine trench and New Guinea trench.Other visiting experts were Data Communication expert from University of Guam Bruce Best, Emergency Management expert from Attorney General’s Department Terri Reid, logistics Coordinator & Training expert Ross Bunn and Risk Assessment Specialist expert Jane Warne.
