Space Apps Challenge 2018

Volcanoes, icebergs, and asteroids (OH MY)

Don’t forget the can opener!

Create an easy-to-use way for people to develop their own, custom checklists – both items and plans – for specific kinds of disasters. Use NASA images, videos, or data visualizations to illustrate each disaster type, to help people understand how to prepare.

Tsunami

Tsunami or tidal wave is a long, high ocean wave caused by an earthquake or undersea volcanic eruptions. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases. Tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes over deep waters, only slowing down when reaching shallow waters. A tsunami is actually a series of waves. Often the initial wave is not the largest. In fact, the largest wave may not occur for several hours. There may also be more than one series of tsunami waves if a very large earthquake triggers local landslides which in turn trigger additional tsunamis.

How to survive a tsunami?

Before the tsunami:

• Talk about tidal waves with your family so everybody recognizes what to do in a tidal wave circumstance. Talking about it early decreases fear, especially for more youthful youngsters.
• Plan evacuation routes from your home, school, workplace and other places you could be where tsunamis present a risk.
• If you do live in a coastal area, elevate your home to help reduce damage. Most tsunami waves are less than 10 feet (3 meters).
• Take precautions to prevent flooding.
• Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a tsunami watch or warning being issued for your area. But remember, you may need to evacuate immediately – don’t risk your safety to save your belongings.

During the tsunami:

• Drop, cover, and hold on to protect yourself from the earthquake.
• When the shaking stops, gather members of your household and review your evacuation plan. A tsunami may be coming within minutes.
• Take your emergency preparedness kit. Having supplies will make you more comfortable during the evacuation.
• Avoid downed power lines and stay away from buildings and bridges from which heavy objects might fall during an aftershock.
• To escape a tsunami, go as high and as far as you can (ideally to a spot 100 feet above sea level or 2 miles away). Every foot inland or upward may make a difference. If you can see the wave, you are too close for safety.

After the tsunami:

After the tsunami is done you should be as careful or even more careful because there are a lot of dangers: from ready to fall buildings to contaminated water.

• Let friends and family know you’re safe.
• If evacuated, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.
• Avoid disaster areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of the tsunami, such as contaminated water, crumbled roads, landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
• Check food supplies. Any food that has come in contact with floodwater may be contaminated and should be thrown out.

Emergency kit

The kit should be personalized according to your special needs for example health issues, allergies etc.

Prepare in advance by assembling emergency kits-bags with at least a 3-day supply for each family member. The kit should include:

• A first aid kit

• Essential medicines

• Water, about 100 oz per person per day, for drinking, hygiene and cooking

• Food, packaged, canned, no-cook, as well as baby food ( in case there is one ) and food for special diets ( if anyone is on one e.g. diabetic diet )

• Can opener, non electric

• Blankets/towels or sleeping bags

• Flashlights

• Matches
• Whistles

• Sturdy shoes

The basic formula to remember when packing your kits-bag is : Your ideal target kits-bag weight goal is 10% of your body weight. The maximum you should attempt to carry is %20. For example, if you weight 200 lbs. then 10% of 200 = 20 lbs.

Important links

http://cwarn.org/tsunami/be-prepared

https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tsunami.html

https://www.wunderground.com/prepare/tsunami