Abstract:
Tsunami is one of the most devastated coastal hazard, which may
perhaps yields serious damages to both human lives and properties in
affected islands like Sri Lanka. As an island, Sri Lanka has also become
a Tsunami prone risk zone as frequent earthquakes reported in Java
Sumathra region.
Knowledge and the awareness on such coastal hazards of the community
is a vital facts, which results is minimizing its adverse effects. Developing
awareness processess and effective communication systems will
definitely assist in the designing of hazards maps and evacuation plans.
26th December 2004 Tsunami has hit the Sri Lankan coastal regions
creating many lives losses and property damages as a result of lack of
previous experience in similar typed hazard.
Focusing the assessment of public awareness and subsequent
responsiveness on Tsunami, the study was planned to evaluate degree of
awareness in the general public on Tsunami responsiveness and counter
measures to be adopted. The survey was carried out in two stages as pre
and post second anniversary of December 2004 Tsunami event. At
the survey, 1200 sample was selected based on geographical
representations of affected Grama Niladhari Divisions. School community
and the general public are substantially encountered at the survey. A
questionnaire was used to collect data from the sample and informal
discussions were conducted to collect additional information. The survey
was conducted by a team comprising of Engineers, Sociologist etc. The
data collected was analyzed and results are presented in the report.
Media effect, communication gaps, reliability of early warning systems,
public responsiveness, suggested countermeasures are the critical
outcomes of the study which needs to address at policy level.
Ill
