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By Dr. Jeannette Sutton, globally recognized expert on disaster communications, associate professor at the University at Albany, founder of The Warn Room and Ryan Reynolds, assistant director of San Mateo County Emergency Management.
On July 29, 2025, your phones buzzed with tsunami warnings across California, Alaska, and Hawaii. If you're like most people, you might have wondered: What exactly should I do? Where should I go? How long will this last?
These questions matter because when emergencies strike, the alerts you receive can mean the difference between safety and danger. After analyzing this summer's tsunami responses alongside December's event, we've learned valuable lessons about how to make those critical messages clearer and more helpful for you and your family.
When disaster threatens, getting the right information to you quickly is our most important job. You shouldn't have to guess what "Tsunami Advisory" means or wonder whether you need to evacuate. The science shows us exactly how to create alerts that help you make fast, informed decisions—and we're working to apply those lessons consistently.
Recent events revealed both progress and areas where we can do better for our communities.
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