ITIC Training Programme (ITP) - Hawaii

The ITIC organizes specialized training for its Member States

TRAINING (ITP-Hawaii)

The ITIC Training Programme (ITP-Hawaii) is held annually in Hawaii, USA, under the direction of the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC).  Participants are provided with an overview of the history and operations of Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.  Specific focus is given to the important role of regional and national tsunami warning centers in monitoring and evaluating the tsunamigenic potential of earthquakes, and in issuing timely tsunami warning messages to government emergency officials who can then act to save lives and reduce damage to coastal communities.  The Programme provides training and familiarization with the Pacific Tsunami Warning System, sub-regional and national warning systems, and Civil Defense concepts of operations and standard operation procedures.  The ITP-Hawaii uses Hawaii as a working example of an end-to-end tsunami warning and mitigation system demonstrating close stakeholder coordination and partnership for operational warnings and in preparedness activities.

Participants will engage in a series of informational presentations at ITIC and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, and visits to Emergency Operations Centers, to seismic or water level station field sites, and to the University of Hawaii if time permits.  A 1-day off-island field trip to visit the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and several tsunami memorials is included.  

Additional specialized topics can be covered based on the needs of participants.  Recent emphasis has been on the understanding and use of the PTWC Enhanced Forecast Products that are now implemented in the Pacific (since October 2014) and Caribbean (since March 2016).  Newly developed training also available includes numerical modeling using the ComMIT tool, and tsunami evacuation maps, plans, and procedures. 

More information: ITIC Director (Laura Kong, laura.kong@noaa.gov), Hawaii