Tsunami warning ramifications

[Philip Argy]

Just out of curiosity, what are the procedures at YSSY when a tsunami warning is issued for Botany Bay, as it was up until 22:00 Wednesday Sydney time?

Is there provision for the airport to close if the risk of runway inundation is high? How is the risk monitored at night?

[Grahame Hutchison]

These guys seem to have everything under control with loads of monitoring information. The warning was cancelled an hour after it was issued.

http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/?region...9.07.15.104745

Click on the white cross.

If a major Tsunami hit Sydney you would want all the aircraft out of there.

Glad I live at 250ft AMSL.

[Philip Argy]

Is there provision for a warning to be included in ATIS?

The official warning for NSW is still current and expressly includes Botany Bay:

** Marine Threat Tsunami Warning is current for New South Wales. **

THERE IS A MARINE TSUNAMI WARNING CURRENT FOR NEW SOUTH WALES.

Marine Warning: Gabo Island to Seal Rocks
IDY68028

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

MEDIA:
NO USE OF STANDARD EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNAL (SEWS)
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE AND FREQUENT BROADCAST
************************************************** ******************************

TSUNAMI WARNING NUMBER 4 FOR PARTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Issued by the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) at
10:44 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009

************************************************** ******************************

TSUNAMI THREAT TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

************************************************** ******************************
SUMMARY:

Tsunami warning for the marine environment for parts of NEW SOUTH WALES.

Threatened areas extend from Gabo Island to Seal Rocks including Batemans Bay,
Bellambi, Botany Bay, Gabo Island, Jervis Bay, Kiama, Merimbula, Montague
Island, Moruya, Moruya Heads, Narooma, Nelson Bay, Norah Head, Shell Harbour,
Sydney Harbour, Ulladulla and Wollongong.

Possibility of DANGEROUS WAVES, STRONG OCEAN CURRENTS AND SOME LOCALISED
OVERFLOW ONTO THE IMMEDIATE FORESHORE for several hours from 09:45 pm (EST)
Wednesday.

Although major evacuations are not required, people are advised to get out of
the water and move away from the immediate water's edge.

Next update will be issued by 11:44 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009

For latest and further information call 1300 TSUNAMI (1300 878 6264) or visit
www.bom.gov.au

************************************************** ******************************
DETAILS:

A threat of DANGEROUS WAVES, STRONG OCEAN CURRENTS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME
LOCALISED OVERFLOW ONTO THE IMMEDIATE FORESHORE exists for parts of NEW SOUTH
WALES from Gabo Island to Seal Rocks including Batemans Bay, Bellambi, Botany
Bay, Gabo Island, Jervis Bay, Kiama, Merimbula, Montague Island, Moruya,
Moruya Heads, Narooma, Nelson Bay, Norah Head, Shell Harbour, Sydney Harbour,
Ulladulla and Wollongong.

Tsunami effects are expected at the following locations from these times:

Port Kembla after 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday
Batemans Bay after 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday
Eden after 09:45 pm (EST) Wednesday
Sydney after 10:00 pm (EST) Wednesday
Newcastle after 10:15 pm (EST) Wednesday

COMMUNITY RESPONSE ADVICE FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE

- While major evacuations in these areas are not required, people are advised
to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge of
harbours, coastal estuaries, rock platforms and beaches.

- Boats in harbours, estuaries or shallow coastal water should return to
shore. Secure your boat and move away from the waterfront.

- Vessels already at sea should stay offshore in deep water until further
advised.

- Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami, as there is the possibility of
dangerous, localised flooding of the immediate foreshore.

- Check that your neighbours have received this advice.

CAUTION:
Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach waves, with the first
wave not necessarily being the largest.

Low-level effects may be observed in neighbouring coastal areas. People are
advised to take care.

TSUNAMI SOURCE:
An undersea earthquake of magnitude 7.9 (Latitude 45.960S Longitude 166.470E )
occurred at 07:22 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009 near OFF W. COAST OF S.
ISLAND, N.Z..

Sea level observations have confirmed a tsunami has been generated.

Tsunami has been observed at Spring Bay in TAS at 10:05pm and at Port Kembla at
10:06pm

************************************************** ******************************

The earthquake of magnitude 7.9 (Latitude 45.960S Longitude 166.470E )
occurred at 07:22 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009.

************************************************** ******************************

The NEXT UPDATE will be issued by 11:44 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009

FOR LATEST AND FURTHER INFORMATION:
Call 1300 TSUNAMI (1300 878 6264) or visit www.bom.gov.au

[David Ramsay]

It was all our fault .. the bottom of the South Island tried to fall off.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Not another Tasmania

[Adam P.]

The NEXT UPDATE will be issued by 11:44 PM EST on Wednesday 15 July 2009

...unless we've been washed away by then....

[Raymond Rowe]

Originally Posted by David Ramsay

It was all our fault .. the bottom of the South Island tried to fall off.

everything is your fault.

[Grahame Hutchison]

Maybe those Kiwis are trying to fill the ditch so they can walk across !

[Peter D]

Originally Posted by Raymond Rowe

everything is your fault.

lmao That was probably the funniest thing I've ever read on this forum. My laughing has since abated in the light of the Bledisloe cup score... :|

[Nigel C]

Originally Posted by Philip Argy

Just out of curiosity, what are the procedures at YSSY when a tsunami warning is issued for Botany Bay, as it was up until 22:00 Wednesday Sydney time?

Is there provision for the airport to close if the risk of runway inundation is high? How is the risk monitored at night?

The Ports were in full emergency mode as far I am aware, more so in case there were ships broken free from moorings by the predicted possible strong currents. If a ship broke free then that could have potentially major ramifications for the airport and surrounds.
Remember the airport is typically ~6m in elevation, and the shape of Botany Bay would provide some sort of a natural 'breakwall' effect from surges in most directions.

Of course the airport would close if it was under water, but more likely there would be some flooding of the lowest lying areas; Airport Drive already floods now when there are king tides (lanes do get closed), so a swelling of water levels would only exacerbate this issue.

Is there provision for a warning to be included in ATIS?

Santa Claus makes it onto the ATIS every year. But seriously, apart from saying the airport is closed, what else would you put on there?
If the threat was deemed as being that serious, there would most likely be Notams issued, and aircraft would be given the information enroute.

Originally Posted by Grahame Hutchison

If a major Tsunami hit Sydney you would want all the aircraft out of there.

The authorities estimate Sydney would have between 2 and 11 hours warning of a possible tidal wave (based on the location of the tectonic plates). Although it would be ideal to get everything out of there, I seriously can't see it practically happening. Besides, there would be aircraft that are undergoing maintenance that simply couldn't be moved in time. You'd just hope the insurance policies would cover such an event...