Sounding the alarm when a disaster strikes or when it is about it happen isn’t as adequate enough then when community training and awareness is carried out.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction head of Pacific sub-regional office, Gabrielle Emery, to save lives, coastal communities must also be trained to respond.

She made the comment while officiating at the World Tsunami

Day commeration at the Mineral Resources Department in Nabua on Friday. They should have their reduction plans in place, develop outreach and public education materials. She said it is important to create public friendly and tsunami evacuation maps and display tsunami information.

Given the volcanic eruption experience in Tonga this year, Ms Emery said this should serve as a wakeup call to Fijians in doubling their efforts when preparing for disasters.

Coupled with this, the 2022-2023 Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Outlook released by the Fiji Meteorological Services has forecasted that two to three tropical cyclones are likely to pass through Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

“So this year’s World tsunami day calls on all countries to reduce tsunami risk through increasing access to early warning systems,” she said.

While launching the National Disaster Awareness Week on Thursday, Minister for Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu, stated that Fiji should expect storms to become more severe in the years to come.

Mr Seruiratu said the urgency to be prepared was strongly needed more than ever.

“It is our opportunity to reflect on the lessons of past tragedies, and a time to educate ourselves and prepare our nation better for future storms,” he said.

“We all would agree that effective early warning has proven to save both lives and properties.”

Emergency numbers:

• 917 for Police
• 910 for NFA
• 913 for EFL
• 5720 for FRA
• 5777 for WAF

Feedback: josefa.babitu@fijisun.com.fj