Confronting an unfamiliar hazard: Tsunami preparedness in Tasmania

Recognition of the fact that Australian coastal communities can experience tsunami within hours of their being detected led to the development of the Australian Tsunami Warning System. If the benefits of this system are to be fully realized, members of communities susceptible to experiencing tsunami must be prepared to respond within this timeframe. This paper discusses how a lack of experience of tsunami hazards in communities in Tasmania that has resulted in low perception of risk being attributed to this hazard, with levels of preparedness being correspondingly low. The paper then discusses whether a model that has demonstrated an ability to predict preparedness in areas in the United States where tsunami risk is accepted can be applied in Tasmanian communities. Following demonstration that this model is not a good predictor when people are dealing with a hazard with low risk acceptance, an alternative model is presented and its utility evaluated. The role of planning and risk beliefs is also discussed.