Samoa Survivor Says Radio Personnel Joked re Earthquake, Said ‘There’s No Tsunami Warning’

Honolulu weather anchor Malika Dudley (KGMB-TV) has received a disturbing report from a Samoa tsunami survivor about the conduct of a local radio station’s staff following the September 29 earthquake but before the tsunami waves struck the islands.

The station has posted the email on its website. Here’s the survivor's serious charge:

People turn to the radio for news and instead of being told the reality of the situation, these two DJs spent the morning joking and trivializing this very serious event. This was a time for them to instruct ALL people to move to higher ground right away. In fact, right before the tsunami hit, a man called in to the radio station and reported that people were running on the wharf and that the water was receding. Joey and Lupe were very condescending to this man, who was only trying to warn others but was instead met with skepticism and incredulity. I wish that the recording from that morning could be replayed for all to hear.

As we’ve said repeatedly at this website and our original Tsunami Lessons site, the media have a critical role to play in communicating tsunami warnings. The survivor’s email observed that people turn to their news media for information in a crisis. She also says lives could have been saved had a properly trained radio station staff issued a cautionary warning – even in the absence of an official communiqué from the Pacitic Tsunami Warning Center.

The survivor’s email shows that simply initiating a PTWC warning isn’t what saves lives. What is missing all too often is the mechanism that ensures people actually receive the warning.

Much more work remains to be done before it can be said the tsunami warning network is functioning properly.