The announcement follows the report by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket) that all of Phuket’s 19 warning towers are functioning but some have slight faults, such as broadcast not being loud enough (read here).
As Asst Prof Dr Tavida pointed out, the tsunami warning system was created in 2005 and over a dozen years have already passed since its launch.
“The area has developed a lot, the way people live and the surrounding environment have changed. Also the condition of equipment may get worth – especially when the budget for maintenance is limited – leading to the quality of broadcast going down. Thus I proposed to the provincial authorities to review the system, as I am the creator of it,” Asst Prof Dr Tavida said.
Asst Prof Dr Tavida suggested that local residents can be a valuable source of information about the effectiveness of the system. Phuket towers are tested every Wednesday morning and locals can inform authorities if the warnings cannot be heard.
“It is necessary to ask for cooperation from people in beach-side areas and ask them to notify the relevant government agencies immediately if they notice that the warnings are not clear or ineffective in any other way,” Asst Prof Dr Tavida explained.
“Thus in the case of real disaster people will have time to prepare for evacuation which will prevent loss of life and damage to property,” she added.
Asst Prof Dr Tavida stressed that in case of a real tsunami the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) will not rely on towers only. People will be warned by social media, radio, television and other means available.