Public Information Statement
184 NOUS46 KSEW 151523 PNSSEW PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA 825 AM PDT TUE OCT 15 2013 ...THE GREAT SHAKEOUT AND TSUNAMI WARNING COMMS TEST IS THURSDAY... ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 17 2013 BETWEEN 1015 AND 1020 AM PDT...THE NATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER (NTWC) AND THE NWS WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN SEATTLE WASHINGTON WILL CONDUCT A TSUNAMI WARNING COMMUNICATIONS TEST. THIS TEST IS IN SUPPORT OF THE GREAT WASHINGTON SHAKEOUT DRILL WITH STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...PART OF A GLOBAL EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS EFFORT. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WILL PRACTICE HOW TO DROP COVER AND HOLD ON AT ABOUT 1017 AM PDT ON OCTOBER 17TH DURING THE GREAT SHAKEOUT EARTHQUAKE DRILLS. WASHINGTONIANS CAN JOIN THEM BY REGISTERING FOR THE 2013 GREAT WASHINGTON SHAKEOUT. PARTICIPATION IS A GREAT WAY FOR YOUR FAMILY OR ORGANIZATION TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO SURVIVE AND RECOVER QUICKLY FROM BIG EARTHQUAKES. PRE-REGISTER AT WWW.SHAKEOUT.ORG/WASHINGTON/ IN COASTAL AREAS...THE GREAT SHAKEOUT EARTHQUAKE DRILL WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE TSUNAMI WARNING COMMUNICATIONS TEST. THE TEST PURPOSE IS TO EVALUATION COMMUNICATIONS FOR USE IN DISSEMINATION OF TSUNAMI WARNINGS...WATCHES AND ADVISORIES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES AROUND THE STATE WILL DISSEMINATE A REQUIRED MONTHLY TEST (RMT) MESSAGE VIA NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM TO HELP KICKOFF THE GREAT SHAKEOUT DRILL. BROADCASTERS WILL CARRY THE EAS MESSAGE TO HELP REACH MUCH OF THE STATES CITIZENS ALONG WITH THOSE WHO HAVE ALL-HAZARD WEATHER RADIO RECEIVERS. IN COASTAL AREAS...THE EAS MESSAGE WILL ALSO INCLUDE SPECIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TSUNAMI COMMUNICATIONS TEST. LOCAL OFFICIALS IN THE OUTER COASTAL AREAS OF PACIFIC...GRAYS HARBOR...JEFFERSON AND CLALLAM COUNTIES WILL ALSO TEST THE ALL-HAZARD ALERT BROADCAST OR AHAB OUTDOOR SIREN SYSTEMS. A FOLLOW UP SERVICE EVALUATION WILL BE CONDUCTED AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS...PLEASE CONTACT: TED BUEHNER WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST PHONE: 206-526-6095 EMAIL: TED.BUEHNER@NOAA.GOV $$