A wave of conversation followed the tsunami alert issued along the coast last month.

It prompted responses such as Oak Bay adding a second emergency preparedness session to an already-planned program.

B次元官网网址淭he warning was in place for three or four hours and then the warning was lifted. But in the meantime people really werenB次元官网网址檛 sure how to respond,B次元官网网址� said Eileen Grant, manager, emergency programs for Oak Bay. B次元官网网址淎 lot of them slept through it because it was a 1 a.m. But some didnB次元官网网址檛. Some were wakened by concerned relatives in other parts of the country who were already up.B次元官网网址�

It appeared there was confusion about why things happened, how things happened and many voiced concern over how they should have been notified or not notified. It made people question what they knew.

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B次元官网网址淎 lot of people understand the word tsunami, they donB次元官网网址檛 understand what it means to them, what it means to their community and when they should evacuate and when itB次元官网网址檚 fine to roll over and go back to sleep,B次元官网网址� Grant said.

Many werenB次元官网网址檛 aware of when or where to evacuate.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not aware of things like inundation zones and this sort of thing, even though we do talk about it during our emergency preparedness sessions, we donB次元官网网址檛 place a lot of emphasis on it,B次元官网网址� Grant said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 because Oak Bay is surrounded by ocean, but itB次元官网网址檚 not as big a risk as some of the other risks that are out there.B次元官网网址�

In response, Oak Bay, Saanich and the University of Victoria offer Tsunami 101 B次元官网网址� Risk, Impact and Preparedness. The free public session is Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Bob Wright Centre, Room B150, Flury Hall. To ensure seating people are asked to pre-register.

The presentation will include the latest information on the advances in tsunami research. Presenters include Dr. Kelin Wang, PhD Senior Research Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada, on understanding earthquakes and tsunamis in coastal British Columbia; the risks of earthquakes and tsunamis on the West Coast and what scientists do to prepare society for these risks.

Dr. Tania Lado Insua, PhD Ocean Analytics Program Manager, Ocean Networks Canada will cover how tsunamis are measured and modelled; the basics of tsunami science, tsunami modelling and tsunami detection. Grant and Maegan Thompson, emergency program officer for Saanich will talk about preparedness and tsunami response. Rob Johns, Emergency Planning Manager, University of Victoria will moderate the event.

Registration is required to guarantee a seat, call 250B次元官网网址�475B次元官网网址�7121 or visit saanich.ca/EN/main/community/emergencyB次元官网网址恜rogram.html Course #905504.

editor@oakbaynews.com