Upper Cook Inlet community meetings will address tsunami hazard

In a series of community meetings to be held Oct. 17–20, scientists and local emergency managers will answer questions about a new report of tsunami hazard to upper Cook Inlet.

Residents across upper Cook Inlet learned in August that they may not be as protected from tsunami danger as they had previously thought. 

A new report by scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys revealed the conditions under which a tsunami could reach upper Cook Inlet’s shores, which were previously considered to be immune to tsunami threat. The study, including a map of the modeled tsunami inundation line, is aimed at preparing residents and emergency responders for the most extreme tsunami scenario.

The scientists and local emergency managers welcome members of the public to ask questions at a series of community meetings. 

The following lineup is intended to cover communities with land within the modeled inundation zones detailed in the report. Each meeting will begin with a welcome by a member of the Anchorage Assembly from the affected area, followed by an overview of the report by scientists, then an introduction to the wider panel that includes the emergency managers. The session ends with an open period for questions from attendees.

SESSIONS

• Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6:30-8 p.m., Girdwood Community Room, 250 Egloff Drive, Girdwood.
• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6-7:30 p.m., Matanuska–Susitna Borough Assembly chambers, 350 E. Dahlia Ave., Palmer. (Also livestreaming on Facebook.)
• Thursday, Oct. 19, 6-7:30 p.m., Anchorage Assembly chambers, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage.
• Friday, Oct. 20, 6-7:30 p.m., Anchorage Assembly chambers, 3600 Denali St., Anchorage.

AGENDA

1. Welcome/speaker introductions

2. Presentation by scientists — Elena Suleimani, Alaska Earthquake Center tsunami modeler, and Barrett Salisbury, earthquake and tsunami hazards program manager at the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

3. Introduction of emergency managers:

• Amanda Loach, director, Office of Emergency Management (Anchorage)
• Anthony Picasso, geohazard mitigation coordinator and Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards Program manager, Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Bryan Fisher, director, Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Steve Ribuffo, director, Port of Alaska
• One of the following National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials: Dave Snider (tsunami warning coordinator), Aviva Braun (warning coordination meteorologist) or Dave Kochevar (tsunami program manager)

4. Question and answer session with panel

The StoryMap linked here provides background on the tsunami report and tsunami and earthquake science in Alaska.

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