essay for tsunami

Essay on Tsunami for Students and Children

500+ words essay on tsunami.

Tsunami is a phenomenon where a series of strong waves that are responsible for the surge in water sometimes reach the heights in many meters. This is a natural disaster that is caused due to the volcano eruption in the ocean beds. Also, a phenomenon like landslides and earthquakes contributes to reasons for a tsunami. Like other natural disasters, the impact of the tsunami is also huge. It has been seen throughout history how disastrous the tsunami is. The essay on tsunami talks about various factors that contribute to the tsunami and the damage it causes to mankind.

Essay on Tsunami

The disaster that is caused due to waves generated in the ocean because of the earthquake and whose main point is under the water is known as ‘Tsunami’. Also, the term tsunami is associated with tidal waves. Thus, a tsunami is also called as the series of ocean waves that have a very long wavelength. Because of the tsunami, there are strong waves of water is formed and this moves landwards. So, this causes inland movement of water which is very high and lasts for a long time. Thus, the impact of these waves is also very high.

Greeks were the first people on Earth to claim the effects of the tsunami. They claim that tsunami is just like land earthquakes. Also, the only difference between tsunami and earthquake is that tsunami is caused in oceans. Thus, the scale and ferocity of the tsunami are almost impossible to control.

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The History of Tsunami

The highest ever recorded tsunami was on 9th July 1958 in the record books. It took place in a bay which was located in the ligula bay along the coasts of Alaska. After the quake, a massive mass of rock fell into the bay waters from the cliff nearby. Thus, this created an impact and produced a wave that reached a height of 524 meters. Also, this is regarded as one of the highest recorded tsunami waves ever.

The destructive waves responsible for the occurrence of tsunami is also produced in waters of bays or lakes. As this water approached the coast, it grows larger. However, the size of this wave is very low in deep-sea areas. Tsunami waves that are generated in the lakes or bays do not travel for a long distance. Thus, they are not as destructive as the ones produced in the ocean waters. There are various directions in which tsunami can travel from the main point.

One similar devastating tsunami was experienced in India in 2004. However, the origin of this tsunami was located near Indonesia. Because of the tsunami, it was expected that a total of 2 lakh people lost their lives. The waves traveled extensively thousands of kilometers in countries like Thailand, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.

Tsunamis occur mainly in the Pacific Ocean. There are very chances that they take place in the area where there are larger bodies. Coastlines and open bays next to very deep waters may help tsunami further into a step-like wave.

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Tsunami Essay

Giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in the sea are known as tsunamis . The height of tsunami waves does not substantially rise as they approach the ocean's depths. However, as the waves move inland, the ocean's depth declines, causing them to rise to ever-higher heights. Although tsunamis majorly affect only coastal areas, they have a tremendous amount of destructive power and can have an impact on entire ocean basins. Here are a few sample essays on "Tsunami".

100 Words Essay On Tsunami

The first people to declare the existence of tsunamis were the Greeks. The Greeks considered a tsunami to be a ground quake. The only thing that separates tsunamis from earthquakes is that tsunamis happen in the ocean. Consequently, it is very difficult to limit the magnitude and spread of tsunamis. The ecology suffers significantly as a result of tsunamis. Buildings, ecosystems, livelihoods, and other things are destroyed.

Underwater earthquakes and volcanic eruptions play a crucial role in the development of tsunamis. Tsunamis are caused by various sources, including ground sinking, explosives, etc. Volcanic eruptions beneath the ocean's surface also cause tsunamis to occur. It is commonly known that tsunamis frequently happen in the Pacific Ocean.

200 Words Essay On Tsunami

The word "tsunami," meaning "harbour wave," is of Japanese origin. A tsunami is a series of lengthy water waves that are caused by ocean floor tremors and volcanic eruptions. A landslide will be the primary effect of the earthquake, barring any failure to produce a tsunami on the inside of the seas.

Warning Signs About Tsunamis

The ecology is destroyed by tsunamis , just like any other natural disaster. When a tsunami hits, the ocean waves accelerate to 420 km/h. There are warning signs advising individuals to get away if a tsunami is approaching in several places along the western coastline of the United States, which is vulnerable to tsunamis from the Pacific Ocean.

Based on details about the event that caused the tsunami, the topography of the sea floor, and the coastal landmass, computer simulations can roughly forecast the tsunami's arrival and damage.

Signals By Animals | Animals in the neighbourhood provide one of the first warnings. Before the flood comes, a lot of creatures recognise danger and seek higher ground. Marine life is impacted by tsunamis as well. The ability to predict earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters could be achieved by closely observing their behaviour.

Tsunami Warning Systems | The public can now be alerted to tsunamis before they reach the coasts in areas with a high risk of flooding by using the tsunami warning systems that are available nowadays.

500 Words Essay On Tsunami

A tsunami is a natural disaster that originates under water and is brought on by the waves that an earthquake causes to be generated in the ocean. The tsunami's impacts were initially reported by Greeks on Earth. They claim that earthquakes on land and tsunamis are identical. The sole distinction between a tsunami and an earthquake is that a tsunami results from an oceanic event. Because of this, it is practically impossible to manage the height and intensity of the tsunami.

Tsunami In India

In 2004, India suffered from a terrible tsunami. The tsunami's source was, though, close to Indonesia. It was estimated that 2 lakh people died due to the tsunami. The waves covered thousands of kilometres in places like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and the Maldives.

In the Pacific Ocean, tsunamis dominate. They are likely to occur in a region with more massive bodies. A tsunami may be aided in its progression into a step-like wave by open bays and coastlines near extremely deep oceans.

Controlling Destruction

Here are some steps that can be taken by the government to prevent Tsunami and especially the destruction it brings:-

Infrastructure | Government expenditures can go toward developing infrastructure that is robust, highly secure, and capable of withstanding a tsunami's impact. The height should be sufficient to prevent the tsunami's upper wave from conquering it. A tsunami-prone area can be protected from intensive development and habitational activity.

Warning Systems | The local government can install a quick and effective early warning system. This would assist in raising everyone's level of alertness. By doing so, it might be possible to reduce the loss of human life by getting more people to migrate or escape dangerous locations.

Awareness | It is vitally important to inform people about the effects of tsunamis and their potential consequences. They must be instructed on recognising and understanding the early tsunami warning signs. Under challenging circumstances, they must learn to stay fully prepared rather than panic and anxiously rush around.

Afforestation | Another alternative is to plant trees that can absorb the force of tidal waves, like mangroves, along the coast and its borders. These may lessen a tsunami's effects and limit the devastation they create.

My Experience Of Mock Drills

I remember mock drills were conducted in my school and high school as they were located near the coast of the Arabian sea. These mock drills were conducted to prepare the students for any emergency circumstances like tsunamis, earthquakes and fire disasters. We were taught how to escape in a planned manner which does not create a problematic situation. We were strictly instructed not to use lifts in such a scenario. During heavy rains, school was kept off since Tsunami is more likely to strike during rains.

Tsunamis are less common than other types of natural disasters. However, they may still cause significant damage. A tsunami's most severe consequence is the massive number of deaths. As a result, individuals have little time to flee or escape a tsunami's immediate, nearly silent impact. Tsunamis significantly harm the environment in addition to bringing severe degradation. Marine life suffers extreme damage.

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World Tsunami Awareness Day: Essay for Students in English

This is an essay on the topic "World Tsunami Awareness Day," a day that resonates with the profound force of Tsunamis and the collective effort to understand, prepare, and unite. Whether you're seeking to grasp the concept or preparing for school projects and competitions, this essay is a valuable resource that you can refer to anytime, anywhere.

Essay on “World Tsunami Awareness Day”

“ Title: Riding the Wave of Knowledge: World Tsunami Awareness Day

Each November 5th , the world unites to honor World Tsunami Awareness Day . We reflect on Tsunamis, nature’s most powerful and unpredictable force. This day is more than a calendar marker; it reminds us of nature’s might and the need to collaborate to prepare.

What is a Tsunami?

Tsunamis are like ocean giants, but not the friendly kind you see in cartoons. They are massive waves triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. These waves can travel across entire oceans and, when they reach the coast, they become towering walls of water, causing immense destruction.

November 5th: A Day of Remembrance

You might wonder, why November 5th? It’s not just a random date; it’s a day we remember as a significant event. Back in 1854, Japan experienced a massive Tsunami known as the Nanki Tsunami. This devastating wave caused a lot of damage and took many lives. This historical event is why the United Nations chose this date to raise awareness about Tsunamis.

Theme for 2023: “Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future”

This year, World Tsunami Awareness Day has a special theme: " Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future ." But what does that mean? It means that we want to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live or their background, has access to knowledge and resources to stay safe from Tsunamis. It's about being fair and making sure everyone has an equal chance to be prepared.

Real-Life Impact

Tsunamis are not just something we read about in books. They have destroyed many parts of the world. Take, for example, the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. It was one of the deadliest Tsunamis in history, affecting 14 countries and taking the lives of over 230,000 people. This tragic event emphasized the need for a global early warning system, leading to the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.

Building Resilient Communities

So, what can we do about it? It's all about building resilient communities. Resilience means being able to bounce back from challenges and disasters. It involves creating plans, early warning systems, and knowing how to respond. For instance, Japan, a country frequently facing Tsunamis, has one of the most advanced Tsunami warning systems in the world. Their well-practiced evacuation plans have significantly reduced the impact of Tsunamis on their coastal communities.

The Role of Education

Education plays a vital role in raising awareness about Tsunamis. Many schools teach students about the science of Tsunamis, how to recognize warning signs, and what to do in case of a Tsunami. It's like having a superhero team to help us stay safe.

Conclusion for Essay

World Tsunami Awareness Day is not just another day on the calendar. It's a day of reflection and action. It reminds us of the incredible power of Tsunamis and the need to be prepared. So, let's come together, learn, and work towards building resilient communities that can face the unpredictable might of Tsunamis. As students, we have the power to make a difference by spreading the word and being ready.

World Tsunami Awareness Day serves as a beacon of awareness and preparedness in the face of nature's might. It's a global call to action, a moment of reflection, and a shared endeavor to build resilient communities.

Whether you're looking to understand the concept or gearing up for school projects and competitions, remember that this essay is a reference you can turn to anytime, anywhere. As you ride the wave of knowledge, let's stand together in the face of this awe-inspiring natural force.

FAQs on World Tsunami Awareness Day: Essay for Students in English

1. How does a Tsunami affect human life?

Tsunamis can cause widespread loss of life, injury, and damage to property and infrastructure.

2. Where can I find an Essay on World Tsunami Day 2023?

You can find an essay on the “World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023” on Vedantu’s website.

3. Tsunami information in 150 words?

Tsunamis are giant waves that can be caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides underwater. They can travel very fast, up to 500 miles per hour, and can be over 100 feet tall. Tsunamis can cause widespread damage and loss of life, so it is important to be prepared if you live in an area that is at risk.

4. What date is Tsunami Day celebrated?

The 5th of November is celebrated as World Tsunami Day.

5. From which language was the word Tsunami taken info?

Tsunami is a Japanese word. Tsu means port or harbor, and nami, means wave.

Essay on Tsunami

Students are often asked to write an essay on Tsunami in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Tsunami

What is a tsunami.

A tsunami is a series of powerful waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of water. This usually happens due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides.

How Does a Tsunami Form?

When the sea floor abruptly deforms, it displaces the overlying water, triggering a tsunami. The waves travel across the ocean at high speeds.

Effects of a Tsunami

Tsunamis can cause mass destruction when they hit land. They can flood cities, destroy buildings, and take lives. It’s important to have early warning systems to minimize damage.

Understanding tsunamis helps us prepare and mitigate their harmful effects.

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250 Words Essay on Tsunami

Introduction.

Tsunamis, deriving from the Japanese words ‘tsu’ meaning harbor and ‘nami’ meaning wave, are a series of powerful water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water. They are known for their destructive power and unpredictability, posing a significant threat to coastal communities.

Causes of Tsunamis

Tsunamis are typically triggered by seismic activities beneath the ocean floor. These include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. The energy released during these events displaces the overlying water column, generating waves that can travel across oceans at high speeds.

Characteristics and Impact

Unlike regular waves, tsunami waves involve the movement of the entire water column from the sea surface to the seabed. This attribute contributes to their long wavelengths and high energy, enabling them to travel vast distances. Upon reaching shallow waters, their speed decreases, causing the wave height to increase dramatically, often resulting in widespread destruction when they hit land.

Prevention and Mitigation

While tsunamis cannot be prevented, their impact can be mitigated through early warning systems, coastal zone management, and community preparedness. Technological advancements have made it possible to detect seismic activities and issue timely alerts, thereby saving lives.

Tsunamis, while a fascinating natural phenomenon, are a stark reminder of nature’s power. Understanding their causes and characteristics is crucial in developing effective mitigation strategies, thereby reducing their devastating impacts on human lives and the environment.

500 Words Essay on Tsunami

Tsunamis, often referred to as seismic sea waves, are a series of ocean waves caused by any large-scale disturbance of the sea surface. These disturbances can include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides or even meteorite impacts in the ocean. Tsunamis are not regular sea waves but energy waves, often caused by seismic activities beneath the ocean floor. Their impact on human lives and the environment can be devastating, emphasizing the importance of understanding and predicting these natural disasters.

The Mechanics of a Tsunami

Tsunamis are initiated by a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to geological activities like earthquakes. This displacement results in a vertical shift of the overlying water column, creating a series of waves that radiate outwards from the point of origin. The speed of a tsunami is determined by the depth of water, with deeper waters facilitating faster wave speeds.

In the open ocean, these waves may be just a few centimeters high, but their wavelength, or the distance between successive crests, can span hundreds of kilometers. As these waves approach coastal areas, the shallowing sea floor compresses the wave energy, causing the wave to increase dramatically in height.

Impact and Consequences

The destructive power of a tsunami comes from the massive amount of water that it can move and the consequent flooding. When a tsunami reaches the shore, it can cause immense damage to structures, erode beaches and embankments, destroy vegetation, and severely impact both terrestrial and marine life.

The human toll can be equally devastating. Tsunamis can lead to loss of life, displacement of people, and economic damage. The aftermath of a tsunami often includes public health crises, with the spread of waterborne diseases and psychological trauma among survivors.

Unfortunately, tsunamis cannot be prevented as they are triggered by natural geological processes. However, their impact can be mitigated through early warning systems, community preparedness, and intelligent coastal management.

Tsunami early warning systems, comprising seismographs and sea level monitoring stations, can provide critical minutes to hours of warning. This allows people in the path of a tsunami to seek higher ground. Community preparedness involves education about tsunami risks, evacuation routes, and drills. Intelligent coastal management can include the construction of seawalls, planting of mangroves to absorb wave energy, and zoning laws to prevent construction in high-risk areas.

Tsunamis, while a fascinating demonstration of the power of nature, are a sobering reminder of our vulnerability to natural disasters. As our understanding of these phenomena grows, so too does our ability to protect ourselves and our communities. The implementation of early warning systems, public education, and intelligent coastal management are key components in reducing the devastating impact of these ocean giants. Through continued research and community resilience, we can mitigate the effects of tsunamis and safeguard our future against these powerful sea waves.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Happy studying!

Essay on Tsunami For Students and Children

Table of Contents

Essay on Tsunami: A tsunami is a giant sea wave caused by underwater disturbances, like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Tsunamis can travel at incredible speeds and devastate coastal areas. Preparedness and early warning systems are crucial for staying safe during tsunamis. In this blog, we will explore the concept of tsunamis and provide sample essays of various lengths (100, 200, 400, and 500 words) to help you understand the science behind tsunamis, their impact, and safety measures.

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Long and Short Essay on Tsunami

Whether you are looking for a short essay on tsunami of 100 words or a long essay of 500 words, we have got you covered. Here we have provided sample essays on tsunami with all the information that you need.

Sample Essay 1: Tsunami (100 Words)

Tsunamis, often called “harbor waves,” are colossal ocean waves caused by various natural events. The most common trigger is an underwater earthquake, which displaces a massive amount of water. This displacement creates a series of powerful waves that can travel across entire ocean basins.

When these waves reach shallower coastal regions, their energy compresses, causing the waves to grow in height. Tsunamis can appear as rapid, massive walls of water crashing ashore. They bring widespread destruction, flooding, and loss of life.

Tsunami early warning systems use seismic sensors and buoys to detect potential threats. When an earthquake occurs, these systems send alerts to coastal communities, allowing time for evacuation.

Sample Essay 2: Tsunami (200 Words)

Tsunamis are natural disasters characterized by colossal sea waves. These waves are triggered by a variety of underwater disturbances, the most common being undersea earthquakes. When the Earth’s crust shifts during a quake, it displaces a significant volume of water. This displaced water forms waves that radiate outward from the earthquake’s epicenter.

In the open ocean, tsunamis may go unnoticed because they are relatively low and have long wavelengths. However, as they approach shallower coastal areas, the waves grow in height and can reach towering proportions. Tsunamis can move at remarkable speeds, covering vast distances and striking coastal communities with little warning.

The impact of a tsunami can be catastrophic. As the powerful waves surge inland, they inundate low-lying areas, causing widespread flooding and property damage. Coastal infrastructure and buildings are particularly vulnerable. The immense force of tsunamis can uproot trees, vehicles, and anything in their path, leading to loss of life and injuries.

To mitigate the devastating effects of tsunamis, early warning systems have been developed. These systems use a network of seismic sensors and ocean buoys to detect underwater disturbances that could trigger a tsunami. When an event is detected, warnings are issued to coastal communities, giving them precious time to evacuate to higher ground and seek safety.

Sample Essay 3: Tsunami (400 Words)

A tsunami is a powerful natural disaster that can cause widespread devastation. It is a series of ocean waves that are generated by geological disturbances such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater landslides. These waves travel great distances across the ocean and can reach coastal areas with tremendous force, causing immense destruction. In this essay, we will explore the causes, effects, and precautionary measures associated with tsunamis.

Tsunamis are primarily caused by submarine earthquakes. When an earthquake occurs under the ocean, it can displace a large volume of water, creating a series of powerful waves. The strength and size of the waves are determined by factors such as the magnitude of the earthquake, the depth and location of its epicenter, and the characteristics of the seafloor. Volcanic eruptions and underwater landslides can also trigger tsunamis, although they are less common causes compared to earthquakes.

The effects of tsunamis can be devastating. As the waves approach the coast, their height increases, forming a wall of water that can reach heights of tens of meters. When these waves hit the shoreline, they can obliterate everything in their path, including buildings, infrastructure, and vegetation. The force of the waves can result in widespread flooding, with water infiltrating far inland. This can lead to the loss of human lives, displacement of populations, and destruction of entire communities. The economic and emotional toll of a tsunami can be immense and long-lasting.

Given the destructive potential of tsunamis, precautionary measures are crucial in order to minimize loss of life and property. Early warning systems, consisting of a network of sensors and communication systems, can detect the occurrence of an earthquake and subsequently issue a tsunami warning. This allows coastal populations to evacuate to higher ground or seek shelter in designated safe zones. Education and awareness campaigns are also important in order to educate people on how to respond to tsunami warnings and the importance of being prepared for such disasters.

In conclusion, tsunamis are a devastating natural disaster that can cause immense damage. They are primarily caused by submarine earthquakes but can also be triggered by volcanic eruptions or underwater landslides. The effects of tsunamis include widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement of populations. Precautionary measures such as early warning systems and education campaigns are essential in minimizing the impact of tsunamis. It is important for coastal communities to be prepared and informed in order to mitigate the devastating consequences that tsunamis can bring.

Sample Essay 4: Tsunami (500 Words)

A tsunami is a tragic event that can cause immense destruction and loss of life. It is a series of ocean waves triggered by an underwater earthquake, volcanic eruption, or landslide. These waves can travel at incredible speeds across the ocean and reach massive heights when they make landfall. In this essay, we will explore the causes, effects, and preventive measures of tsunamis.

One of the primary causes of tsunamis is tectonic activity. When two tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface shift, it can result in an earthquake. If this earthquake occurs under the sea, it can displace a large volume of water, creating a tsunami. The magnitude of the earthquake determines the scale and intensity of the resulting tsunami. For instance, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1-9.3 off the coast of Sumatra.

The effects of a tsunami are devastating. As the waves travel towards the coast, they gain speed and height. When they finally crash onto the land, they can cause massive flooding and widespread destruction. Entire villages and cities can be wiped out in a matter of minutes. The force of the waves can also destroy infrastructure, such as homes, hospitals, and schools. The aftermath of a tsunami is filled with despair, as survivors struggle to recover and rebuild their lives.

Preventive measures are crucial to minimize the impact of tsunamis. Early warning systems play a pivotal role in alerting coastal communities about the imminent danger. These systems use buoys, seismographs, and satellites to detect and monitor earthquakes and other potential triggers of tsunamis. When a threat is detected, warnings are issued to the vulnerable areas, allowing people to evacuate to safer grounds. Additionally, coastal communities must have well-constructed infrastructure, such as sea walls and flood barriers, to minimize the impact of the waves.

Communities affected by tsunamis must also focus on building resilience. Education plays a crucial role in ensuring that residents are aware of the signs of a tsunami and know how to react in such situations. Regular drills and evacuation exercises can help prepare the population in case of a real event. It is also important to develop contingency plans that include emergency shelters, healthcare facilities, and systems to distribute food and supplies.

In conclusion, tsunamis are natural disasters that can cause immense devastation. They are triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. The impact of tsunamis includes widespread flooding, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of life. To prevent the devastating effects of tsunamis, early warning systems, well-constructed infrastructure, and education must be in place. With these preventive measures, we can better protect coastal communities and minimize the impact of this natural disaster.

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FAQs on Essay on Tsunami

What is a tsunami.

A tsunami is a giant sea wave caused by underwater disturbances, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.

How are tsunamis formed?

Tsunamis are typically formed when underwater earthquakes displace a massive volume of water, creating powerful waves that travel across the ocean.

What is the speed of a tsunami wave in the open ocean?

Tsunamis can travel at remarkable speeds in the open ocean, often exceeding 500 miles per hour (800 kilometers per hour).

What is tsunami short essay?

A tsunami is a massive sea wave caused by underwater disturbances like earthquakes, capable of devastating coastal areas. Early warning systems are crucial for tsunami preparedness.

What is tsunami in 150 words?

A tsunami is a natural disaster characterized by colossal ocean waves triggered by events such as underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. These waves can travel at incredible speeds across entire ocean basins. In the open ocean, tsunamis are relatively low and have long wavelengths, making them challenging to detect. However, as they approach shallower coastal regions, their energy compresses, causing them to grow in height dramatically. Tsunamis can cause widespread devastation when they reach the coast, flooding low-lying areas, destroying infrastructure, and posing a severe threat to human lives. Early warning systems equipped with seismic sensors and ocean buoys play a crucial role in detecting potential tsunami triggers and issuing timely alerts to coastal communities. Preparedness, awareness, and swift evacuation are key factors in minimizing the impact of tsunamis and saving lives.

What is tsunami in 10 lines?

A tsunami is a powerful natural event with colossal ocean waves. It's often triggered by underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides. Tsunamis can travel at extraordinary speeds across the open ocean. In deep water, they may have long wavelengths and go unnoticed. As they approach shallower coastal regions, they grow in height. Tsunamis can cause widespread flooding, property damage, and loss of life. Early warning systems use seismic sensors and buoys to detect tsunamis. Alerts are issued to coastal communities, allowing time for evacuation. Preparedness and awareness are essential for tsunami safety. Swift action during a tsunami warning can save lives and reduce damage.

What is tsunami write brief?

A tsunami is a massive sea wave triggered by underwater events like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. These waves can travel at high speeds across oceans and become dangerously large near coastlines. Tsunamis are known for their devastating impact, causing flooding, destruction of coastal infrastructure, and posing a significant threat to human lives. Early warning systems equipped with seismic sensors and ocean buoys help detect potential tsunamis and issue timely alerts to coastal communities. Preparedness and swift evacuation are critical for minimizing the impact of tsunamis and ensuring safety.

Essay on Tsunami for Students in English | 500+ Words Essay

January 1, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Tsunami: A sudden, unexpected series of ocean waves of high risen wavelengths are called tsunami waves. They are strong currents of water waves that rush through inland spaces, flood nearby areas and last for a long time. They are seismic waves that trigger landslide undersea and force themselves through any obstacle on their way. Large volumes of water are displaced at great transoceanic distances at high speeds.

Essay on Tsunami 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Tsunami Essay in English, suitable for class 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

A tsunami is a series of fierce waves generated by the displacement of water. They occur in substantial water bodies due to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and underwater explosions. Tsunamis are also oftenly referred to as tidal waves. The waves are very high in magnitude as well as their length, and they can be immensely destructive.

Japan is the country which has recorded the most significant number of tsunamis. The tsunami generated in the Indian Ocean in the year 2004 is still considered as the most upsetting tsunami taking more than two hundred thousand lives. Tsunamis are quite rare in occurrence as compared to other natural disasters , but they are equally damaging.

Causes of Tsunami

The leading cause of a tsunami is attributable to an earthquake . However, even volcanic eruptions, landslides and comets or other heavenly bodies hitting the sea can be a source. When the tectonic plates of the earth positioned under the sea are disturbed, an earthquake takes place, causing the seawater to displace and erupt in sudden waves. These waves move further and further towards the shores. They can go unnoticed in the deep ocean but become more prominent as the water becomes shallow.

Landslides are another prominent cause of a tsunami. When heavy debris falls without warning with massive force into the sea, it causes a tremendous ripple effect. This ripple effect thus, causes tidal waves to form, which ultimately rise towards the land and cause massive destruction. During the eruption of a volcano on land, debris falls with a great thrust into the water body, causing the same ripple effect. Volcanoes can be underwater as well. They are known as submarine volcanoes. Tsunamis can further occur as a result of meteorological activity and human-made triggers.

Effects of Tsunami

When water washes away the shores with such colossal force, it damages the sewage system and freshwater. It also causes water fit for drinking to erode and contaminate. Because of the water being stagnant and polluted, numerous diseases like malaria affect a large number of people. They become ill, and infections spread quickly. A tsunami may even destroy nuclear plants which result in emittance of harmful radiations. These radiations are fatal to the health of every living organism. Mass evacuations become necessary in areas exposed to radiations because they can result in cancer, death and can even affect the DNA structures.

The saddest effect of a tsunami is the loss of lives in huge numbers. Tsunamis hit suddenly, with almost no warning and hence people get no time to escape it or run away. They drown, collapse, are electrocuted, etc. Tsunamis not only cause massive destruction of life but also degrade the environment in a gigantic way. It uproots trees and destroys pipelines which lead to the release of dioxides, raw sewage and other pollutants into the atmosphere. When these hazardous pollutants are washed into the sea, they also cause unbearable damage to the aquatic underwater life.

When the waves of a powerful tsunami smash the shores, they destroy trees, cars, buildings, telephone lines, pipelines and other man-made equipment into bits and pieces. Poverty rises in areas which get most affected by the wrath of tsunamis. The governments are also able to do little for their betterment immediately due to the high funding requirement and expenses.

Prevention of Tsunami

The government can invest in building strong and high protective infrastructure which can withstand the force of a tsunami. The length should be so tall, that the most upper wave of the tsunami cannot over top it. Also, heavy construction and livelihood activities in tsunami-prone areas can be avoided. The local authorities can install an efficient and fast early warning system. This would help to get all the people on alert. This way, more and more people would evacuate or leave the areas of danger, and human life destruction could be minimised.

Educating people and making them aware of the effects and impact of a tsunami is exceptionally crucial. They should be taught about the early warning signals of a tsunami and how to identify them. They should also learn how to be fully prepared in tough times like these instead of panicking and rapidly running around. Planting the coastal regions and boundaries with trees such as Mangroves which can absorb tidal wave energy can be another option. These can help to reduce the impact of a tsunami and curb the levels of destruction caused.

Paragraph Writing
Paragraph On Tsunami

Paragraph on Tsunami - Check Samples for 100, 150, 200, 250 Words

A tsunami is a kind of natural disaster which is caused due to volcanic eruptions in the ocean beds. Tsunamis are natural occurrences in which a series of powerful waves cause a surge in water that can reach heights of several metres. There are various other reasons that can cause a tsunami which is equally hazardous to people as other natural disasters.

Paragraph on tsunami in 100 words, paragraph on tsunami in 150 words, paragraph on tsunami in 200 words, paragraph on tsunami in 250 words, frequently asked questions on tsunami.

Tsunamis are caused due to various reasons. There are many factors that can lead to tsunamis and cause harm to humankind. Before writing a paragraph on tsunamis, check the samples provided below.

Tsunamis are caused majorly due to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that occur under the ocean. There are various factors that cause tsunamis, like the sinking of the earth, explosives, etc. Tsunamis occur primarily in areas where two continents meet. Tsunamis also happen due to volcanic eruptions under the ocean beds. The Pacific Ocean is well-known for the frequent occurrence of tsunamis. Tsunamis cause a lot of damage to the environment. It destroys buildings, forests, livelihood, etc. Since it is a sudden event, no one can anticipate its occurrence.

Tsunamis are natural disasters that are destructive to the environment. It is caused due to an earthquake underwater. Just like earthquakes are unpredictable, tsunamis occur suddenly, and no one can anticipate their occurrence. There can be various reasons for a tsunami to occur, like the sinking of the earth, explosives, etc. Tsunamis occur primarily in areas where two continents meet. It is known that the Pacific Ocean is a hub of tsunamis. Tsunamis also happen due to volcanic eruptions under the ocean beds. Tsunami is a term that refers to tidal waves. Therefore, a tsunami is defined as a sequence of ocean waves with a very long wavelength. Due to the tsunami, strong waves of water are created and move landwards. As a result, there is a large inland water movement that lasts for a long time. As a result, these waves have significant destructive power. Like other natural disasters, tsunamis also bring great destruction to the environment. It brings losses to livelihood, property, forests, etc.

A sudden movement under the sea beds causes tsunamis. It is an earthquake inside the sea or ocean. The Pacific Ocean is known to be a hotspot of tsunamis. Other than earthquakes, there are other reasons for tsunamis to occur. One of the major reasons is volcanic eruptions under the sea beds. Other reasons for the occurrence of tsunamis are the sinking of the earth, explosives, etc. These natural disasters occur primarily in areas where two continents meet. A tsunami is a term that refers to tidal waves. Therefore, a tsunami is defined as a sequence of ocean waves with a very long wavelength. Due to the tsunami, strong waves of water are created and move landwards. As a result, there is a large inland water movement that lasts for a long time. As a result, these waves have significant destructive power. Like any other natural disaster, tsunamis bring massive destruction to the environment. When a tsunami strikes, the sea waves reach a speed of 420 kilometres per hour. Beaches are ruined, trees and plants are broken, and human settlements, residences, buildings, and ports are demolished due to the tsunami.

The term “tsunami” refers to tidal waves. As a result, a tsunami is characterised as a series of extraordinarily long-wavelength ocean waves. Strong waves of water are formed by the tsunami and move landward. As a result, there is a massive and long-lasting inland water movement. As a result, these waves have considerable destructive power. Tsunamis are caused by abrupt movement beneath the seabed. It’s an earthquake that occurs deep within the water or ocean. The Pacific Ocean is known to be a hotspot of tsunamis. Tsunamis can develop for a variety of reasons other than earthquakes. Volcanic explosions beneath the seabed are one of the leading causes. Tsunamis can also be caused by the earth sinking, the explosion of bombs, and other factors. Tsunamis are especially common in locations where two continents meet. Tsunamis cause strong water waves to move towards the ground. The Greeks were the first people on the planet to assert that tsunamis had occurred. As per the Greeks, a tsunami is a ground quake. Tsunamis and earthquakes are only distinguished by the fact that tsunamis occur in the oceans. As a result, controlling the size and spread of tsunamis is nearly impossible. Tsunamis, like every other natural calamity, wreak havoc on the environment. The sea waves reach a speed of 420 kilometres per hour when a tsunami strikes. Due to tsunamis in seas or oceans, beaches are wrecked, trees and plants are washed away, and human settlements, dwellings, buildings, and ports are destroyed.

What is meant by a tsunami?

A tsunami is a strong and abrupt movement inside the water, causing destruction to the environment. It is a kind of natural disaster which is similar to earthquakes. It occurs inside the water causing strong tidal waves.

How are earthquakes different from tsunamis?

Earthquakes are strong and sudden movements on land, but tsunamis are caused by earthquakes inside the seas or oceans.

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What is a tsunami?

A tsunami is a series of waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions..

On September 29, 2009, a tsunami caused substantial damage and loss of life in American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga. The tsunami was generated by a large earthquake in the Southern Pacific Ocean.

Did you know?

Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases. The speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean depth rather than the distance from the source of the wave. Tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes over deep waters, only slowing down when reaching shallow waters. While tsunamis are often referred to as tidal waves, this name is discouraged by oceanographers because tides have little to do with these giant waves.

More Information

Tsunami "Fast Draw" Animation

Tracking Tsunamis (Ocean Today Video)

National Weather Service TsunamiReady ™

NOAA Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART)

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How to cite this article

A U.S. Marine helicopter loaded with food flies over Lampuuk in northern Sumatra after a tsunami killed most of the village's 7,000 residents–and nearly 230,000 people on coastlines around the Indian Ocean.

Tsunami safety tips

These massive waves involve intense force and overwhelming volumes of water. Here's how to prepare.

With the ability to approach shores at 30 miles an hour and rise more than 100 feet high, tsunamis pose a deadly threat to coastal populations. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Tohoku tsunami are two vivid and tragic examples of these waves' destructive power.

The most important step in staying safe during a tsunami—or any natural disaster, for that matter—is to know how vulnerable your area is in the first place. Many local governments map hazard areas and evacuation routes for communities at risk, while the U.S. National Weather Service offers a nationwide map with links to resources .

"Know what your risks are," says Kevin J. Richards, a natural hazards officer for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. "What's likely going to impact your home or your area?"

How to prepare

● Know the warning signs of a tsunami: rapidly rising or falling coastal waters, a loud roar from the ocean, or rumblings of an earthquake . “If people along the Indian Ocean coastline on December 26, 2004, were aware of and heeded these natural warnings, fewer people would have died,” says Rocky Lopes, administrator of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program . He adds, “A strong myth is that tsunamis always cause the ocean to recede before [the powerful] waves flood in. In some areas, particularly on islands, water recession may not happen.”

● Familiarize yourself with your government's warning system and subscribe to alerts. In the U.S., NOAA Weather Radio is a good resource.

● Map your evacuation route—not just for your home, but work, school or caregivers , or any place else where your family tends to be. Know how to get to safety on foot—roads may not always be feasible.

● Have your evacuation plan ready and rehearsed now. That way, Richards says, "You don't have to think about it. You just go and do it."

● Keep an emergency kit or "go bag" handy at home or in your car. The American Red Cross offers tips for stocking it here , including food, water, and a cell phone with chargers.

lightning striking beneath a picturesque supercell thunderstorm

● Coordinate with loved ones on reuniting. "What happens when the family has to respond from separate areas?" Richards recommends asking. "How do you eventually come back together?"

During a tsunami

● If you're in a tsunami area and there is an earthquake, first drop to the floor, cover your head and neck, and hold on to something stable. If you're in a low-lying area, move inland as soon as possible.

● Listen for official warnings, but also listen and watch for natural signs. "Listen to the authorities, but do not wait for tsunami warnings and evacuation orders," counsels the U.S. site Ready.gov .

● People often mistake the distance they have to go to be safe. "Many people think they've got to go miles," Richards says, "when it might be just right behind Johnny's house." If you're a visitor staying in a tall concrete hotel, he adds, going above the fourth floor likely will be safer than evacuating.

● Stay put in a safe area until an official all-clear is given. The first wave of a tsunami may not be the last or the strongest and the danger can last for hours or even days, according to the National Weather Service .

After a tsunami

● Stay clear of damaged or flooded areas and downed power lines.

● Listen for further alerts and instructions about evacuation zones and shelters.

● Use texts and social media to communicate with loved ones, as phone systems are likely to be down or busy. The American Red Cross has a registry where you can list yourself as safe and well .

Follow these common-sense guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on food and water safety, including using bottled, boiled, or treated water and throwing away perishable foods left unrefrigerated for more than four hours.

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Essay On Tsunami – 10 Lines, Short & Long Essay For Children

Key Points To Remember: Essay On Tsunami For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on tsunami for kids, a paragraph on tsunami in english for children, short essay on tsunami for kids, long essay on tsunami for children, what will your child learn from this essay, interesting facts about tsunami for kids.

The word ‘Tsunami’ is of Japanese origin, which means harbour wave. A tsunami is the repetition of long-wavelength water waves triggered due to quakes and volcanic eruptions in ocean beds. If the earthquake fails to cause a tsunami inside the ocean, it will mostly cause a landslide. This tsunami essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 will help your child learn about new things. A tsunami essay in English will also improve ability to convert thoughts into words, positively impacting communication and vocabulary.

A topic like tsunami isn’t a very easy topic to write about. Children might need the assistance of parents or teachers to write about tsunamis. Here are a few key points to remember when writing a composition on tsunami for lower primary classes:

Use videos or pictures while explaining tsunamis to kids. Visual aids help in better memorisation.
Keep the content crisp and clear. A tsunami is a phenomenon that involves geographical terms. So, keep in mind to use simple language.
Encourage your child to write their essay independently once the basics are covered.

What is a tsunami? How does it occur, and what is its impact? Get answers to these questions from the essay for class 1 and 2 kids on tsunamis. Mentioned below are a few lines on tsunami:

Tsunamis are natural disasters that cause harm to the environment.
It happens due to an earthquake underwater.
These occur unexpectedly.
Volcanic eruptions, plate shifting, the sinking of the earth, etc., are other reasons for tsunamis.
The term tsunami means harbour waves.
It has a series of waves with a high wavelength, capable of serious damage.
The waves created in seas and oceans move towards the land and destroy buildings, homes, forests, etc.
Landslides also lead to tsunamis.
Most tsunamis often happen in the Pacific ocean.
India experienced a similarly destructive Tsunami in 2004.

Do you want to read a short paragraph on tsunamis for children? Then, you are at the right place. Given below is a template for reference:

A tsunami is a series of waves of high wavelengths that cause water to move toward the land. It happens due to earthquakes whose main point is in the water/ocean. Greeks were the first to notice the effects of tsunamis. Sudden volcanic eruptions in the ocean beds, the sinking of the earth, etc., are the other major reasons for tsunamis. Like any other natural calamity, it causes widespread damage to human lives, buildings and trees. Underwater explosions can lead to tsunamis as well. The Pacific Ocean is known to be the hub of tsunamis. Ports and harbours get affected badly by tsunamis.

Looking for a simple-written short essay for classes 1,2 and 3 on tsunamis for kids to understand? Well, search no further. Given below is the template for the same:

A tsunami is defined as a series of waves of high wavelengths that cause water to move toward the land. It happens due to earthquakes whose main point is in the water. Greeks were the first to study the effects of tsunamis, and the only difference between earthquakes and tsunamis is that the latter happens in water. Tsunamis are called seismic waves. We should know that all seismic waves are tsunamis, but earthquakes are not the sole cause of all tsunamis. It also occurs due to sudden volcanic eruptions in the ocean beds, the sinking of the earth, etc. Like any other natural calamity, it causes widespread damage to human lives, public and private properties, and forests. Underwater explosions can lead to tsunamis as well. The Pacific Ocean is known to be the hub of tsunamis. During tsunamis, marine life is also get affected.

Natural calamities like tsunamis occur due to various reasons and cause damage to living and non-living. Here is an essay for class 3 kids on the causes, impacts and history of tsunamis.

History of Tsunami

According to legend, the Greek historian Thucydides suggested that there might be a connection between undersea earthquakes and tsunamis. But until the 20th century, knowledge of the causes and nature of tsunamis was limited. Ammianus, a Roman historian, characterised the sequence of events leading up to a tsunami as an earthquake, a quick retreat of the sea, and then a massive wave. The highest ever tsunami took place in a bay along the coasts of Alaska on July 9th, 1958.

What are the Causes and Effects of Tsunami?

Causes of Tsunami

Earthquakes and Landslides: Shifts in tectonic plates cause earthquakes, and when the main point is in the water, a tsunami is triggered. Sometimes landslides induced by earthquakes lead to these tidal waves.
Volcanic Eruptions in Sea Beds: Volcanic eruptions in sea beds are another cause of these high wavelength waves.
The Sinking of The Earth: Changes in the earth’s crust or interiors often lead to the sinking of the earth, and this sudden shift can trigger a tsunami.
Underwater Explosions: Incidents like meteor collisions with the earth, or chunks of ice breaking off from glaciers lead to underwater explosions.

Effects of Tsunami

Boats and Ships Sink: The crashing of such high waves causes widespread damage to boats and ships off the coast.
It Ruins Buildings, Trees and Houses: Since the water moves towards the land and is of high velocity, it can destroy homes, uproot trees and displace vehicles.
Causes: As in the case of any natural calamity, a tsunami also takes a toll on people’s lives.

How Can Tsunami Be Prevented?

The effects of a tsunami can be reduced by avoiding inundation areas, slowing down water by building ditches, slopes, etc. and steering water to strategically placed walls or structures. An alert well ahead of time can also reduce the damage percentage.

How To Prepare for a Tsunami Disaster?

To escape a tsunami, go 100 feet above sea level or 2 miles away.
Often there are weather reports and cautionary warnings for a tsunami. Please take care to follow them.
Every foot inland or upward is sure to make a difference!
If you can see the wave, you are too close for safety!

Your child will learn about the causes, history and effects of natural disasters such as tsunamis. They will also understand essay writing and its ways better.

The word tsunami means harbour wave in Japanese.
The Pacific Ocean is the hub of tsunamis.
The first wave of a tsunami is never the biggest.
The series of waves generated by a tsunami is called a wave train.
Often called tidal waves, tsunamis are not related to ocean tides.

What is the Difference Between Earthquake and Tsunami?

The major difference between an earthquake and a tsunami is that tsunamis are triggered by earthquakes whose main point is in the oceans or seas. And earthquakes happen on the land.

Topics like composition on tsunamis create awareness about natural calamities and the damage these can cause to humans. Teach your child about possible effects and help them learn new things.

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Tsunami Warning System: Preparing for the unpredictable

UNESCO is the UN Agency in charge of ocean science. With its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission joined by 150 Member States, and its expertise in the culture and education fields, UNESCO coordinates actions by governments, scientists, the private sector, civil society and other UN organizations. Together, we created the tsunami warning system. We map the ocean depths, identify species, work to ensure that ocean literacy is included in school curricula and protect ocean sites, which are home to critical biodiversity and incomparable beauty. In this story, we tell you more about UNESCO’s work on the tsunami early warning system, how it works and how it saves lives.

Tsunamis are rare events. But when nature’s fury is unleashed, their deadly effects are devastating. The initial impact may make the front page of news media, but the aftermath on communities, livelihoods and the environment will linger for many years after the natural disaster strikes.

In the last century, 58 of them have claimed more than 260,000 lives, surpassing any other natural hazard. More are expected in the future as the sea-level rises due to climate change.

Therefore, preparing for the unpredictable can mean the difference between surviving and not.

11 March, 14:00 UTC: the Earth shakes

An earthquake occurs in the Atlantic, 100 kilometres east of the Lesser Antilles – the long, delicate arc of small Caribbean islands fanning out between the Caribbean Sea and the open ocean. The volcanic archipelago, home to 3.2 million people, is perched on one of the tectonic plates that sit on the Earth’s crust.

Just as the plate slips along the Caribbean fault line, a massive burst of energy akin to a nuclear warhead explosion sets off a giant shockwave 25 kilometres beneath the planet’s surface.

Strong earthquakes are highly destructive in their own right. But they can also trigger other cataclysmic natural hazards.

As the seabed suddenly rises, it displaces colossal volumes of water, producing powerful waves that spread outward in all directions, just like the ripples from a stone thrown into a pond.

The smaller, ocean-facing Antilles are on the frontline of the looming wave. The larger islands – Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico – as well as the communities in the Gulf of Mexico and coastal Venezuela, are also under threat. Nearly 160 million people are in imminent danger.

Tsunami Waves : digitally-scanned photos from the ITIC collection

11 March, 14:02 UTC: the earthquake is detected, tsunami sensors activate

The monitoring station in Martinique picks up the tremor and estimates it at 8.5 on the Richter scale. The large magnitude is cause for concern. Major earthquakes that occur beneath the sea lead to deadly tsunamis. Still, visual detection in the vast open ocean remains challenging because the powerful tsunami waves are low in height while they travel across deep water.

That is why shore-based tide gauges and deep-ocean buoys continuously monitor the oceans to detect any threatening changes. These silent sentinels can spy and track any minuscule change in the temperature of the seafloor and its pressure.

An ocean buoy anchored in the depths of Barbuda – a flat coral island hugged by white-and-pink sand beaches and crystal-clear waters – senses the force of the hidden submarine wave and alerts the monitoring centre on the sister island of Antigua.

11 March, 14:05 UTC: the Tsunami Warning System raises the alarm

Antigua feeds the data on the force of the approaching wave into the Tsunami Warning System, which alerts all observatories in the region. Authorities in all neighbouring countries are immediately alerted: the rapid transmission of information to dedicated centres is vital to lessen the damage caused by tsunamis.

Disaster prediction and prevention Preventing large-scale disasters calls for a high degree of international and multilateral cooperation. After the 1960 Chilean tsunami, which left a trail of death and damage as far away as Japan, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) stepped in to set up the Pacific Ocean Tsunami Warning System, the first of its kind.

The 9.5 magnitude earthquake in Chile, the largest recorded in the 20th century, set off a tsunami that battered the South American coastline for over 4,000 kilometres with waves up to 25 metres high.

Fifteen hours later, the tsunami, which by then had travelled 10,000 kilometres, struck Hawaii, then Japan and the Philippines. The final death toll was over 2,000.

The scale of the disaster highlighted the need for a warning alert system in the Pacific, where most of the world’s deadliest tsunamis occur. Over the years, the alert system has evolved beyond issuing warnings. UNESCO’s role now includes prevention, preparing communities to respond to tsunami threats and fostering the latest tracking and detection technologies.

Other exposed regions, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean, have also adopted Early Tsunami Warning Systems based on the Pacific model.

11 March, 14:15 UTC: public alerts go out

The tidal wave is already in sight of the Lesser Antilles. There is little time left before it hits the coast. Tsunami waves in the deep ocean can travel thousands of kilometres, up to 800 kilometres per hour, the speed of a jet aircraft.

In Martinique, the local government alerts the municipalities and the media, which immediately publish alerts. Police sirens and loudspeakers give evacuation orders. Guided by their teachers, schoolchildren rush out of their classrooms, heading for higher ground. Office workers and tourists seek safety on the rooftops of high-rise buildings.

Empowering communities to react An early warning system can be effective only when the population is well aware of the tsunami phenomenon and knows what to do in case of an emergency.

This is vital when tsunamis are generated close to the coast and there may not be time for official evacuation orders.

As part of IOC-UNESCO coordination plans, communities are empowered to play an active role through self-evacuation if a strong earthquake is felt or a strong roaring sound – similar to a train or a jet aircraft – is heard. Highly visible and labelled evacuation routes help show the best access to nearby higher grounds or the higher floors of tsunami-proof buildings.

11 March, 14:16 UTC: the sea level drops

UNESCI Public alerts - Tsunami - Ocean science

As the tsunami approaches the coast, the sea is drawn back due to the vacuum effect caused by the wave. The water along the shoreline of Anguilla, the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, is dragged back dramatically, exposing the shallow coral reef and stranding many marine creatures.

The expanding shoreline is nature’s warning that a tsunami is approaching. It is a sign that there are only seconds or, at best few minutes, before the full impact of the first wave.

When the sea disappears Survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami said the water had receded for up to 2.5 kilometres along the coastlines of Indonesia and Thailand. Bystanders, many of them children, lingered on the exposed beach to observe the phenomenon and collect stranded fish.

The lack of tsunami awareness, combined with the absence of a coordinated alert system, contributed to the high death toll. There were an estimated 227,000 fatalities in 14 countries, with India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand being the hardest-hit.

Still, some coastal communities in Indonesia were able to evacuate despite the lack of alarms, thanks to local traditions and folklore developed during previous tsunami disasters.

The tragedy highlighted the importance of understanding the early signals of an approaching tsunami.

For example, the "disappearing sea" may not happen at all. Sometimes the sea suddenly swells without any warning signs, surprising people and giving them little time to flee.

Tsunamis can be detected using the human senses

Tsunami evacuation signs.

11 March, 14:20 UTC: the first wave hits

UNESCO - Ocean science - Tsunami warning system 2:20

When the swell approaches the shore, the leading edge of the wave begins to slow down in shallow waters. As the tsunami loses its speed nearing the coast, the first wave suddenly swells as much as 20 metres in height. The massive wall of water rushes towards the coastline, demolishing everything in its way. The force of the wave is powerful enough to overturn boats, crumble palm trees and sweep away beach shacks.

Why is it called tsunami ? The flatter the coast, the stronger is the impact from the waves. This is the reason why the effects of the tsunamis are more devastating in ports, beaches and in the mouths of the rivers. It also explains the origin of the word. In Japanese, tsunami means bay or harbour wave.

11 March, 14:40 UTC: the second wave hits

UNESCO - Ocean - science - tsunami - 2:40

Tsunamis always surge in multiple waves. The first wave may not be the largest, and often it is the second or later waves that are the biggest.

The second wave, towering at 30 metres, hits after as little as five minutes. The coastal areas are completely devastated and under water.

We heard a second wave, and another. There were no houses anymore.

A tsunami survivor

In 1950, Markus Kailhulu was a 12-year-old living in the village of Hutumuri in Indonesia, when a tsunami hit the Moluccas. The villagers had evacuated to higher ground and witnessed the destruction brought by the waves.

Journée mondiale de sensibilisation aux tsunamis 2020 - Histoires de survivants (Marcus Kailuhu)

We went to see and it looked like a flood from up there. We heard a second wave, and another. There were no houses anymore, all gone,’ he says. ‘The waves swept it all. It hit the edge of the mountain, it went back while taking the houses. The church was the only building left.

11 March, 15:00 UTC: other waves hit

The first two waves were massive walls of water. The others now resemble a surging tide that inundates coastal areas, carrying debris from the destruction caused by previous waves.

Entire neighbourhoods have been washed away. Up on the hills, people stare at the devastation below with fear and incomprehension.

World Tsunami Awareness Day People experiencing a tsunami should be aware that the danger may not have passed and should await official confirmation that it is safe to return. Raising awareness and education among the coastal communities is essential to prepare citizens on how to respond to the risk of tsunamis and cope with their aftermath. The UN-supported World Tsunami Awareness Day is the brainchild of Japan, which due to its repeated experience with tsunamis, has built up over the years major expertise in early warnings and public awareness to reduce future impacts. The event, held every year on 5 November, calls on countries, international bodies and civil society to raise tsunami awareness and share innovative approaches to reduce the death toll and devastation. Posters, flyers, e-learning courses and guidelines as well as games teach children, who are among the most vulnerable groups, how to identify and cope with a tsunami.

World Tsunami Awareness Day

"The game is fun and worth a try." Tsunami Ready board game, World Tsunami Awareness Day 2021, Indian Ocean.

Playing the Tsunami Ready game

The Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre has developed a Tsunami Ready board game for children living in the coastal communities. "Playing the game, I’m able to learn a lot, such as what are the mitigation efforts that we can do at community, family as well as individual levels," says Sasa Tsairoo, a young game player who took part in the World Tsunami Awareness Day in 2021. "The game is fun and worth a try."

11 March, 19:43: rescue and recovery begins

Local authorities issue an "all clear" that it’s safe to return to the coastal areas. People rush out into the streets, stunned. In the midst of flooding and devastation, search and rescue teams are busy across the archipelago in a desperate attempt to find survivors. Essential utilities like water, telecommunications, gas lines and electricity are inoperable. The coastline is devastated with flooding, damaged buildings, debris, fires and hazardous spills. Many are missing. Many more have lost their homes and may have to stay in shelters or public buildings until the reconstruction begins.

Reality or fiction? This report is, in fact, the fictional scenario of a tsunami in the Caribbean, based on a drill exercise.

Caribe Wave is an annual tsunami preparedness exercise set up by the United Nations and overseen by IOC-UNESCO. The date and time of the simulation are not a random choice: it is the anniversary of the Japan earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 16,000 people on 11 March 2011.

Under IOC-UNESCO’s oversight, the drills allow different countries and territories, emergency management agencies and communities at risk to test, validate and update their tsunami response plans.

The exercise, which in 2019 involved up to 800,000 people to simulate a catastrophic scenario, focuses on the coordination among countries, improving response procedures and training the local population to become prepared.

It also plays a crucial role in fostering resilient communities. Tsunamis are a real threat in the Caribbean. At least 75 have hit the region over the past 500 years. Some countries facing the Gulf of Mexico are also exposed to the double threat of tsunamis along their Pacific coastlines.

Thanks to Caribe Wave, over 50 coastal communities are now considered Tsunami Ready. This means that these communities now have the tools to face not just tsunamis, but also other coastal hazards.

Tsunami Ready recognition As of 2021, six countries have piloted UNESCO’s Tsunami Ready Programme, while seven more are in progress. The programme aims to build resilient communities through awareness and preparedness strategies that will protect life, livelihoods and property from future tsunamis.

One of the achievements in becoming Tsunami Ready for us in Saint Kitts and Nevis was the ability to enhance our disaster preparedness. That was very vital and critical in also encompassing coastal hazards

"The ability to enhance our disaster preparedness" – World Tsunami Awareness Day 2021, Saint Kitts and Nevis

World Tsunami Awareness Day 2021 - Caribbean: St Kitts and Nevis

Preparing for future tsunamis

Millions of people live in coastal areas across the world where the rising sea level is increasing the risk of tsunamis.

In 2021, the United Nations set the goal of making all at-risk communities Tsunami Ready by 2030. IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready recognition has shown how different countries and communities can work together to reduce the risk of catastrophic coastal hazards that can cause death and destruction, hitting the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.

By improving warnings, enhancing preparedness and practicing response drills, these communities can prepare and become resilient, together.

"The Tsunami Ready programme reduces the risk for our communities." World Tsunami Awareness Day 2021

Tsunami Short Essay for Children and Students

December 20, 2017 by Study Mentor 2 Comments

Whenever we hear of the word Tsunami, we are all gripped by fear because we have seen the impacts after the land is hit by this ‘giant harbour wave.’ A tsunami is a giant wave that strikes the land surrounding seas or oceans. Tsunami is a natural disaster; a nature’s way of showing to us how devastating it can be to life.

Tsunamis are of varying magnitudes. The height of the waves increases as they move away from their source and travelling towards the land. As the ocean depth increases the height of the wave’s increases and upon hitting the shore, a very large impact can be felt.

The interval between two waves can either be a few minutes or can take up to hours. They can travel at jet plane speeds over deep water but slow down as they are nearing the shallow areas.

Tsunamis are caused by the earthquakes occurring on the deep sea ocean floors due to shifting of the tectonic plates below the ocean bed. They can also occur due to landslides, volcanic eruptions, explosions or meteorite impact.

They reach the coast with tremendous amounts of energy due to which they have a great erosion potential. They erode the coastal fertile soil of the surrounding land in a few hours or minutes. It can disrupt the vegetation, houses, and other land property along its way.

The most notorious Tsunami that has occurred till date was on 26 th December , 2004. This tsunami took place due to the earthquake in the Indian Ocean off the north-western coast of Sumatra, Indian Ocean. This had a 9.0 magnitude and it caused lives of almost 200,000 people and many countries were impacted by this incident.

This Tsunami was said to have traveled 500 miles per hour and took from 15 to 7 hours to travel to various coastlines. Indonesia , Thailand , Sri Lanka and South India were hit the hardest but other countries like Bangladesh , Madagascar , Seychelles , Malaysia , Kenya were also affected.

Most tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean. The zone at which it normally occurs is the northern edge of the Pacific Plate and is said to be geologically very active. Strong earthquakes that are at least of & magnitude on the Richter scale result in these waves.

Japan is hit by Tsunamis almost every year due to its geographic location making it prone to many earthquakes. Due to this, Japan has suffered several casualties for over many years. To prevent loss of life and property, Japan has constructed many dykes along the coastline as an early Tsunami warning system.

We cannot prevent a Tsunami but can always take up some measures that provide protection from it. Early alarm systems need to be installed that can give us an idea about the Tsunami if it were to occur. Satellite systems can also detect and measure tsunami waves by sending out electro-magnetic pulses.

Proper evacuation routes need to be mapped and people living near coastal areas need to build houses at an elevation, likely on a hill. Food provisions and other necessities in emergency shelters also need to be taken care of by those places that are prone to frequent tsunami hits.

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Tsunami Geological Origin Essay

Tsunami is one of the most dangerous large-scale hazards. It is chosen as a primary topic for the essay, as it is the most hazardous and unpredictable natural phenomenon. Despite the rapid development of technology, a tsunami is variable. Moreover, a number of victims remain high, as the speed and development of the wave are high, and only some people can react quickly and evacuate from a dangerous zone. Consequently, a considerable magnitude and power of the wave destroys everything, which occurs on its way.

Figure 1 presents a devastating impact of the tsunami on the Japanese city, Minamasanriku ( Japanese tsunami 2011). This disaster expectedly happened in 2011 (Reuters in Seattle 2015). The photograph displays the power and ability of the nature to destroy the whole city in a short period.

However, it has to be mentioned that this tsunami not only lead to the socio-demographic and economic problems, but also to the ecological issues. As some of the debris, such as electronics, car wrecks, and sports equipment still floats in the Pacific Ocean, the Ocean’s ecology is in danger (Reuters in Seattle 2015). Moreover, this fact causes problems to the United States of America, as some of the wreckages appear close to its coastline (Reuters in Seattle 2015).

As for the geoscientific origin of a tsunami, the process is complicated, as the intensity and magnitude depend on various parameters. Firstly, the source of the volcanic eruption has to be understood, as this natural phenomenon is one of the primary causes of a tsunami. Figure 2 displays the influence of volcanic eruption on tsunami formation ( Volcanic eruption n.d.). A release of magma occurs due to the extreme density of magma and other gasses under the Earth’s crust (Masters 2012).

It could be seen high volumes of debris, which are crashing into the sea with the rapidly excavating speed ( Volcanic eruption n.d.). This act causes a production of elevating capacities of energy aimed at the water surface. It is a primary cause of tsunami formation, as the pressure involves a movement of high volumes of water towards the shore. Even though a volcanic eruption is a leading cause of tsunami, the gigantic waves might occur due to the earthquakes and landslides.

The earthquake occurs due to the rapid release of accrued pressure in the crust of the Earth. A primary cause of it is ‘the relatively slow motion of lithosphere plates’ (Levin & Nosov 2009, p. 44). The epicenter of the earthquake takes place where a dislocation happens due to the remaining fault on the surface of one or more platitudes (Levin & Nosov 2009). As plates move, the surface of the Ocean experiences fluctuations and pressure, which leads to the tsunami development.

There are several types of tsunami regarding their geographical occurrence such as regional, local, and distant. Earthquakes generate all of these types (Mercado-Irizarry & Liu 2006). However, other geological changes such as volcano eruption might be considered as possible causes of this natural phenomenon. The local tsunamis have a travel time of maximum 24 minutes (Mercado-Irizarry & Liu 2006).

One of the examples of a tsunami is the disaster, which took place on Virgin Islands in 1867 (USC Tsunami Research Group 2005). Two waves crashed into the shore one after another with only ten minutes interval between them (USC Tsunami Research Group 2005). The population of the island was not able to respond quickly to the possible hazards. However, local tsunami attacks continue, as at the same time the island St. Croix was hit by two giant tsunami waves.

According to the eyewitnesses, the waves were around 7.6 meters high and caused severe damage to the island, as they were unexpected (USC Tsunami Research Group 2005). It could be concluded that local tsunamis are the most dangerous and are a reason for the significant amount of deaths, as the travel time of the wave is rather fast. In this case, the local government is illegible to contact and warn the inhabitants on time.

Regional and distant tsunamis are less dangerous, as they reach the coastline in more than 24 minutes (Mercado-Irizarry & Liu 2006). It could be said that regional tsunamis are less dangerous, as they affect only limited shorelines. However, even though the evacuation time is rather high, distant tsunamis are considered as the most hazardous one to the humankind. The destructive power is great, as the wave gains rapid speed from its generation until it crashes into the shoreline.

Furthermore, its detrimental effect continues to 1,000 kilometers from the epicenter (International Tsunami Information Center 2015). One of the example of distant tsunami aggression happened in the Indian Ocean in 2004 (International Tsunami Information Center 2015).

The primary cause of the massive tsunami was the earthquake of 9.8 magnitude (International Tsunami Information Center 2015). The power of the wave was so incredibly high, as it ruined a significant amount of settlements and caused death to thousands of people. Figure 3 displays the moment right before the shore get swallowed by the giant wave ( Tsunami in the Indian Ocean 2013). The city seems tiny compared to the tsunami wave. The outcome is rather predictable, as the speed and height of the wave can be assumed.

In conclusion, it could be said that it is vital to understand a geological origin of a tsunami. There are two primary reasons for tsunami such as an earthquake and volcanic eruption. This knowledge will help avoid a big amount of victims after large-scale natural hazards. It could be said that tsunami is one of the most destructive natural forces, which exist on the planet Earth.

It could be understood from the pictures presented above that tsunami is a real danger for the humankind. With the high frequency of its occurrence, human beings and other animals could be vanished from the surface of the world.

Reference List

International Tsunami Information Center 2015, Tsunami classification .

Japanese tsunami . 2011, image. Web.

Levin, B & Nosov, M 2009, Physics of tsunamis, Springer Science + Business Media B.V., New York.

Masters, N 2012, Volcanic eruptions , Cherry Lake Publishing, North Mankato.

Mercado-Irizarry, A & Liu, P 2006, Caribbean tsunami hazard , World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., Singapore.

Reuters in Seattle 2015, ‘Japanese tsunami debris will continue to wash up on US shores, expert says’, The Guardian . Web.

Tsunami in the Indian Ocean . 2013, image. Web.

USC Tsunami Research Group 2005, The 1867 Virgin Island tsunami .

Volcanic eruption n.d., image. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2020, April 15). Tsunami Geological Origin. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tsunami-geological-origin/

"Tsunami Geological Origin." IvyPanda , 15 Apr. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/tsunami-geological-origin/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Tsunami Geological Origin'. 15 April.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Tsunami Geological Origin." April 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tsunami-geological-origin/.

1. IvyPanda . "Tsunami Geological Origin." April 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tsunami-geological-origin/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Tsunami Geological Origin." April 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/tsunami-geological-origin/.

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A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. These waves can kill and injure people and destroy entire communities. Tsunamis strike as fast moving walls of water that flood, drain, and re flood the land for hours. Tsunamis can flood more than a mile inland. But we can take action to prepare. Prepare now to protect yourself and your loved ones.

What Should You Do Before a Tsunami

Know your risk .

Tsunamis can strike any U.S. coast, but the risk is greatest for communities with Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. Coastal areas such as beaches, bays, lagoons, harbors and river mouths and areas along rivers and streams that lead to the ocean are the most vulnerable.
If you live on or near a coast, find out if you are in a tsunami hazard zone.

Make Plans to Stay Safe

Learn about your community’s tsunami evacuation plan. Some communities have maps with evacuation zones and routes. Know and practice these routes in the places where you spend time.
If your community does not have a tsunami evacuation plan, identify a safe place at least 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or at least 1 mile (1.6 km) inland.
Be ready to move quickly to higher ground or inland. Don’t wait for an official alert.
If you are near the coast, a tsunami could follow an earthquake. As soon as the shaking stops, move quickly to higher ground or inland away from the coast. Don’t wait for an official alert.

Understand Tsunami Alerts and Natural Signs of a Tsunami

There are two ways that you may be warned: an official tsunami alert or a natural sign of a tsunami. Both are equally important. You may not get both.
A natural sign of a tsunami may be your first, best, or only warning that a tsunami is on its way. Natural signs include an earthquake, a loud roar from the ocean, or unusual ocean behavior, such as a sudden rise or wall of water or a sudden retreat of the water, showing the ocean floor. If you experience any of these signs, a tsunami could be coming. Immediately move to higher ground or inland away from the coast. Don’t wait for an official alert.
Tsunami alerts are shared on local radio, television, weather radios, and other emergency alert systems. Understand the different alerts and what to do when you receive them.

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What Should You Do During a Tsunami

Move to high ground or inland.

If your community is under a Tsunami Warning or you see natural signs of a tsunami:

DANGER-TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION! MOVE TO HIGH GROUND OR INLAND (AWAY FROM THE WATER).
If you are near the coast and experience shaking from an earthquake: DROP , COVER , and HOLD ON to protect yourself. As soon as the shaking stops, MOVE TO HIGH GROUND OR INLAND (AWAY FROM THE WATER).
Once you have evacuated, stay there until officials say it is safe to return home or direct you to evacuate further inland.

What Should You Do After a Tsunami

Stay safe .

Understand the dangers you may face after a tsunami. Many injuries happen during cleanup.
If you have evacuated, listen to local officials to learn if it is safe to return home. If there is a lot of damage, it may be days before it is safe to return to your community.
Avoid roads that were flooded, they may be damaged and could collapse.
Do not touch floodwaters. They may contain sewage, bacteria, and chemicals that can make you sick.
Avoid damaged or fallen power lines. Assume all wires are live and dangerous.
When officials allow, inspect the outside of your home for damage before reentering.
If your home is damaged, it may be safer to wait for a professional.
Be aware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Do not use gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, basement, garage, tent, or camper — or even outside near an open window. Carbon monoxide can’t be seen or smelled, but it can kill you fast. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away — do not delay.
Avoid using candles because of the fire risk. Use battery- powered lights and flashlights instead.

Stay Healthy

Monitor your local health department for information about drinking water safety. Tsunamis can contaminate water supplies.
When in doubt, throw it out. Throw away food that got wet or warm.
Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwaters can contain sewage, bacteria, and chemicals. Mold can become a problem if a building is flooded and not completely dried out within 24-48 hours. Mold exposure can lead to asthma attacks, eye and skin irritation, and allergic reactions.

Clean Up Safely

Follow all specific recommendations from your local public health officials. Use the right safety gear including gloves, goggles, rubber boots, and N95 masks. Know how to safely operate any needed equipment.
Pace yourself. Cleaning up is a big job. Rest when you need to. Work with other people and get help lifting heavy objects. Decide which cleanup tasks are most important and focus on those first.
Avoid heat-related illness. If you are without air conditioning in hot weather, be aware of risk for heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and fainting.

Take Care of Yourself

It’s normal to have a lot of bad feelings, stress, or anxiety after a disaster or other emergency.
Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to help you deal with stress.
You can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk to someone. Call or text 1-800-985-5990

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Tsunamis and Your Safety

Learn more about tsunamis and get information about health concerns after a tsunami including food and water safety.

Know how to prepare for a tsunami and how to stay safe during and after one.

Prepare for tsunamis

Blue and white tsunamis hazard zone sign at the beach, with an image and text that warn patrons to seek higher ground if there is an earthquake.

Tsunamis, also known as seismic sea waves, are a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. A tsunami can strike anywhere along most of the U.S. coastline.

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Stay safe after a tsunami

After a tsunami, you may face a number of hazards to your health. Know what to do to protect yourself and your loved ones after a tsunami.

Protect yourself from floodwater.

Floodwater and standing water can be dangerous and can make you vulnerable to infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries. Floodwater can also pose a drowning risk for everyone— regardless of their ability to swim. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, and even shallow standing water can be dangerous for small children.

Stay out of floodwater—it can contain many things that can hurt you or make you sick.
Always follow warnings about flooded roads.
Don't drive in flooded areas—cars or other vehicles won't protect you from floodwaters. They can be swept away or may stall in moving water.

Protect your physical health.

After a tsunami, there are a number of hazards that can make you sick or hurt you. Know how to protect yourself and others from injury or illness after a disaster.

Clean up safely.

Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones during your cleanup after a tsunami.
Follow our cleanup tips and monitor your radio or television for up-to-date emergency information.

Take care of your emotional health.

During and after a disaster, it is natural to experience different and strong emotions. Coping with these feelings and getting help when you need it will help you, your family, and your community recover from a disaster.

Contact SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline‎‎

Connect with family, friends, and others in your community.
Take care of yourself and each other, and know when and how to seek help.

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Community Voice

Work With Vulnerable Neighbors On Disaster Preparation

As we near hurricane season, Hawaii needs to be better prepared to address the needs of elderly populations.

By Kealii Lopez

May 16, 2024 · 4 min read

About the Author

Kealii Lopez

Kealii Lopez is the state director of AARP Hawaii, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. Her career spans more than three decades and includes executive and leadership positions in government, nonprofit and business organizations.

During a meeting of the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board, a community member asked board member Dotty Kelly-Paddock how Hauula would respond if a disaster like a hurricane or tsunami struck the area. Kelly-Paddock admitted she didn’t know. Neither did anyone else.

Koolauloa, which includes Hauula and other North Shore Windward communities, is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Kamehameha Highway, the only road that connects the communities to the rest of Oahu, is likely to be impassable after a tsunami or significant storm.

In addition, all the concrete government buildings in the community are near the ocean and cannot serve as disaster shelters.

When Kelly-Paddock found out that there was not a realistic plan for Hauula residents to survive a disaster, she created one. Kelly-Paddock knew kupuna were the most vulnerable in a disaster so she organized her neighbors and identified where kupuna lived so that someone would check on older and disabled residents during an evacuation.

She identified high ground on state land that would be a safe place to survive a storm surge or tsunami.

Emergency preparedness supplies. A large pile of supplies to be used in case of a natural disaster (hurricane, flood, earthquake, etc.) including: flashlight, backpack, batteries, water bottles, first aid kit, lantern, radio, can opener, mask. No people.

She recruited volunteers and began holding regular meetings to talk about how to survive disasters and created plans and lobbied for funding for a disaster resilience hub on the high ground to house medical and other services and be a shelter in an emergency.

As hurricane seasons begins in the Central Pacific and we think about lessons learned in the wake of the Maui wildfires, AARP Hawaii encourages government, community leaders and individuals to be better prepared for the next disaster and to address the needs of vulnerable populations such as older adults, people with disabilities, residents of long-term care facilities and other congregate housing, low-income communities, older immigrants who do not speak English as a first language and other communities of color.

The Legislature took initial steps in that direction by reinstating the state Fire Marshal’s office and adding a translator position to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. We encourage the next Legislature to do more and not lose focus on the importance of disaster mitigation and preparedness. This is a long term and ongoing process cannot be addressed as a one off.

The next disaster may be a wildfire or it may be a tsunami, hurricane, mass power outage or even an earthquake. We must do as much as we can to protect our kupuna, who are the most likely to perish or be seriously injured in disasters.

AARP has a planning document, developed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It’s available at aarp.org/disasterresilience .

Information on preparing a personal disaster plan is available at aarp.org/home-family/your-home/disaster-preparedness.html .

Everyone, especially caregivers and kupuna, need a personal disaster plan.

We believe that a revised Crisis Standards of Care, a planning document developed in case health care needed to be rationed, should be publicly released. A task force worked on the document after the pandemic, but the revised Crisis Standards of Care has not been made publicly available to-date.

The new Crisis Standards of Care ensures age is no longer a determinant to prioritizing access to necessary lifesaving services and it deserves to be recognized and promoted.

AARP Hawaii urges everyone, especially caregivers and kupuna, to make sure they have a personal disaster plan. Neighborhood leaders need to ask themselves if their community — whether apartment buildings, townhouses or single-family homes — have a community plan to survive a disaster and its aftermath.

If the answer is no, they should work to be like Hauula and other communities that have become disaster resilient. State and local governments should help communities help themselves, and programs to create more disaster resilient communities should be fully funded.

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No one cares anymore about cancel culture, but it is a heckuva a marketing tool for some comics

Bill burr is mostly right: powerful comics don't get canceled. blaming it for comedy's problems only helps them, by melanie mcfarland.

Thank you, Bill Burr , for sparing me from suffering through more than 90 minutes of Bill Maher ’s desiccating “ Club Random ” podcast. I feared that time would be lost forever but you, sir, assisted me and others with reclaiming it by nipping the host’s pointless attempt to engage you in an empty, meaningless argument.

I’m referring to Maher’s stab at diving into the supposed horrors so-called cancel culture inflicts on poor wealthy comedians with huge platforms and followings. For an extra good time, Maher reminded us of his incurable habit of being on the wrong side of history on most issues by mentioning the mythical plight of a certain world-renowned masturbator as an entry point.

“Isn’t it time everyone just went, ‘OK, it wasn’t a cool thing to do, but it’s been long enough and welcome back to the work'?” Maher droned, becoming what feels like the 587th famous performer to mourn their inability to see Louis C.K. smirk at them on a network show.

But this isn’t about that nonsense, which Burr responded to by pointing out that C.K.’s collective acts of indecent exposure and nonconsensual onanism displays cost him $50 million — a few beats after mentioning that he’s self-producing and releasing his material, which has netted him many tens of millions of dollars since.

No, the part I’m celebrating is when Burr invoked the most reliably triggering term of all before dispelling it and distracting Maher to change the subject.

“I remember whenever that cancel culture got to the point when it was, ‘I don’t like some of the topics in your stand-up act.’ That’s when it got weird,” he said, adding, “That’s all over.”

“What’s over? Cancel culture?” Maher says incredulously.

“Yeah. No one cares anymore,” Burr said.

The host who exists in a gilded bubble was not having it. “Either one of us could get canceled in the next two minutes!”

“No. For what?” Burr questioned. “Well, if you’re not doing anything . . . I don’t know. I feel like I’m going back two years of my life. I don’t even think about it anymore. Nice ashtray by the way.” With that Maher moved on to bemoaning the thoughtless acquisition of nice things.

It’s worth remarking that Maher’s terrible take on C.K. and effort to kick off the millionth pointless cancel culture debate took up just over a minute of a too-long podcast episode. Maher also goaded Burr by disparaging the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses and insulting his stated position of being “on the side of the kids” with his condescending, out-of-touch reply of, “Yeah, that’s easy to say. No one wants to see kids dead.”

But it’s the one-two punch of mentioning comedy’s unmentionable performer and the cancel culture boogeyman that generated headlines and tossed lighter fluid and a flipped Zippo onto the social media discourse.

“Club Random” announces its rudderless nature in its title, and whether that works for Maher depends on who’s dropping by. Burr’s regular guy contempt for Maher’s languid insistence that he knows more than everyone else makes other segments watchable.

I also suspect that far fewer of us would have been aware the episode even happened if Maher hadn’t dropped the term that reliably irritates cultural partisans into action.

Burr is mostly right. Cancel culture never was a threat to any famous comedian – especially men like Maher, who has expressed a slew of odious views on his HBO show without suffering any consequences.

Its effect has been the opposite, making stars out of mid-level performers like Shane Gillis whose hiring and firing from “ Saturday Night Live ” when racist jokes he made on his podcast – which is much more popular than Maher's – were brought to light only expanded his fanbase.

For someone like Ellen DeGeneres , whose daytime talk show ended after 19 years following allegations reported in BuzzFeed of sexual misconduct, racism and intimidation committed by her executive producers, cancellation mostly amounts to a time-out.

Regardless, when supposedly cancelled comics are landing Netflix specials, selling out stadiums, or winning a best comedy album Grammy following this supposed career death, that tells us that this dire menace to clown kind is about as real as the Chupacabra .

Maher has spent decades in the TV business, so he can’t honestly claim ignorance as to why his dear “banished” friend – who, like many other performers, is making plenty of money from his direct-to-consumer sales – hasn’t had his sitcom deal restored.

That is not to say it might never happen. Someday there could very well be an executive who decides his brand’s funk smells less like moral rot than money, whose network’s legal department deems the financial risk posed by hiring an admitted harasser, who committed a misdemeanor several times, is worthwhile.

Cancel culture never was a threat to any famous comedian – especially men like Maher.

Whether Maher's ignorance is feigned or genuine is beside the point, because he knows just mentioning the name and those two little words is enough to get a rise out of the public. And this demonstrates the only real weight cancel culture has in the comedy world, in that it’s a proven marketing tool.

The fact that we’re even talking about Maher’s dusty podcast is more evidence. “Club Random” registers as the 129th most popular among Apple users and sits at No. 177 on Spotify, according to Chartable data. (Among comedy podcasts it ranks 25th on Apple and 46th on Spotify, so there’s that.)

Burr’s appearance may boost those rankings, but the cancel culture canard is better at roping in views than a Times Square ticket hawker.

A slice of the same logic also removes the shock of Jerry Seinfeld blaming “the extreme left and P.C. crap , and people worrying so much about offending other people” for the supposed death of TV sitcoms, as he did in a recent issue of The New Yorker.

One expects that of a grumpy old man who's made millions in the medium at a time when the competition amounted to six broadcast networks and a few dozen cable channels.

Besides bathing in “Seinfeld” residuals, Seinfeld has added to his fortune and fame by producing entirely toothless popular content like “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” and his latest project “Unfrosted,” a fabulized history of the Pop-Tart’s invention . None of which qualifies as un-P.C. or even edgy.

It’s streaming on Netflix, which nearly guarantees it would have been found and enjoyed by people if the comedian never blamed progressives for the supposed downfall of hilarity on TV. But positioning himself and therefore his product as standing against buzzkills in the culture war gives Seinfeld entry to the conservative echo chamber whose denizens might have ignored it otherwise.

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Entertainment promotion is often a cynical business; knowing that should remove the shock of a determinedly mid comedian falling into the angry man camp that is increasingly seizing more attention and moving more units in the game than others.

That doesn’t negate the harm of famous, powerful weaponizing the cancel culture specter to generate, clicks or a comeback. Maher characterizes it as part of the #MeToo’s so-called punishments when in truth it predates the movement by many years.

Remember when Gilbert Gottfried was fired from his Aflac deal for making tasteless jokes about the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan? That was 2011, when the great evil was called outrage culture, largely generated by jokes like that, along with rape and sexual violence.

This dire menace to clown kind is about as real as the chupacabra.

Reducing someone’s hurtful (and yes, illegal) actions or the gatekeepers’ inaction to remedy workplace abuses to “not a cool thing” teaches the public that making amends and delivering restitution to those harmed is unimportant. Allowing the laughter to resume matters most.

Indeed, the reason I called Burr’s observation mostly right is because we don’t hear from or about the people whose careers actually have been canceled, like the five women who came forward in 2017 to detail C.K.’s misconduct. One quit comedy altogether. Others like Rebecca Corry keep trying to move forward in a career they’d been building long before they crossed his path.

Corry, who has more than three decades of experience as a performer and stand-up, wrote a 2018 Vulture essay describing the difficulties she encountered before her name became habitually linked with his and spoke to Variety in 2022 after he won that Grammy.

“Why am I constantly being asked to speak on cancel culture, the joke that is the #metoo movement, and C.K. every time he’s in the news cycle? I don’t care what that guy does, and of course cancel culture is real. I’m living proof,” she told Variety. “The moment I was sexually harassed at my job, I was canceled. That’s how it works, kids.”

“So,” she adds later, “let’s talk about what I’m doing and when my Netflix special is happening. There are people who have been doing stand-up for five minutes with comedy specials and others with multiple specials who suck. So when’s mine? I’m ready when you are, Ted (Sarandos, Netflix co-CEO).”

As far as I can tell, he hasn’t called.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter , Crash Course.

DeGeneres, though, is sharpening her material for her Netflix special, which will be taped this fall. Rolling Stone took in her recent set at West Hollywood’s Largo at the Coronet Theater and characterized her means of addressing her part in her show’s downfall as “processing,” including copping to being an immature boss who “didn’t know how to be a boss.”

Throughout the investigation into DeGeneres’ show, it was clarified that the misconduct was perpetrated by others, not her; and that her main shortcoming was turning a blind eye to her managers’ toxic behavior. This was preceded by years’ worth of rumors that the real DeGeneres was anything but kind.

Rolling Stone reports that in her set she admits that the chapter, which counts as her second cancellation from show business, has taken “such a toll on my ego and my self-esteem.” Understandable.

What about the egos and self-esteem of the more than 47 former employees who detailed their painful experiences to BuzzFeed, some of whom left the business after working for “Ellen”?DeGeneres’ audience was thinking about them, too.

During a post-show conversation, one woman asked, “Do you think you’ll seek revenge for those who have wronged you?” This was met by what the reporter described as “a loud round of applause and cheers from every corner of the room.”

There’s your evidence of what famous people crying over supposed cancel culture has yielded. Not justice or a new sense of fairness, but misdirected grievance aimed toward less powerful people ruining everyone else’s good time by exposing our favorite stars' misdeeds.

That, and a lot of outrage clickbait.

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Melanie McFarland is Salon's award-winning senior culture critic. Follow her on Twitter: @McTelevision

Was the 401(k) a Mistake?

How an obscure, 45-year-old tax change transformed retirement and left so many Americans out in the cold.

Credit... Illustration by Tim Enthoven

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By Michael Steinberger

Michael Steinberger is a contributing writer for the magazine. He writes periodically about the economy and the markets.

May 8, 2024

Jen Forbus turned 50 this year. She is in good health and says her life has only gotten better as she has grown older. Forbus resides in Lorain, Ohio, not far from Cleveland; she is single and has no children, but her parents and sisters are nearby. She works, remotely, as an editorial supervisor for an educational publishing company, a job that she loves. She is on track to pay off her mortgage in the next 10 years, and having recently made her last car payment, she is otherwise debt-free. By almost any measure, Forbus is middle class.

Listen to this article, read by Malcolm Hillgartner

Still, she worries about her future. Forbus would like to stop working when she is 65. She has no big retirement dreams — she is not planning to move to Florida or to take extravagant vacations. She hopes to spend her later years enjoying family and friends and pursuing different hobbies. But she knows that she hasn’t set aside enough money to ensure that she can realize even this modest ambition.

A former high school teacher, Forbus says she has around $200,000 in total savings. She earns a high five-figure salary and contributes 9 percent of it to the 401(k) plan that she has through her employer. The company also makes a matching contribution that is equivalent to 5 percent of her salary. A widely accepted rule of thumb among personal-finance experts is that your retirement income needs to be close to 80 percent of what you earned before retiring if you hope to maintain your lifestyle. Forbus figures that she can retire comfortably on around $1 million, although if her house is paid off, she might be able to get by with a bit less. She is not factoring Social Security benefits into her calculations. “I feel like it’s too uncertain and not something I can depend on,” she says.

But even if the stock market delivers blockbuster returns over the next 15 years, her goal is going to be difficult to reach — and this assumes that she doesn’t have a catastrophic setback, like losing her job or suffering a debilitating illness.

She also knows that markets don’t always go up. During the 2008 global financial crisis, her 401(k) lost a third of its value, which was a scarring experience. From the extensive research that she has done, Forbus has become a fairly savvy investor; she’s familiar with all of the major funds and has 60 percent of her money in stocks and the rest in fixed income, which is generally the recommended ratio for people who are some years away from retiring. Still, Forbus would prefer that her retirement prospects weren’t so dependent on her own investing acumen. “It makes me very nervous,” she concedes. She and her friends speak with envy of the pensions that their parents and grandparents had. “I wish that were an option for us,” she says.

The sentiment is understandable. With pensions, otherwise known as defined-benefit plans, your employer invests on your behalf, and you are promised a fixed monthly income upon retirement. With 401(k)s, which are named after a section of the tax code, you choose from investment options that your company gives you, and there is no guarantee of what you will get back, only limits on what you can put in. This is why they are known as defined-contribution plans. Pensions still exist but mainly for unionized jobs. In the private sector, they have largely been replaced by 401(k)s, which came along in the early 1980s. Generally, contributions to 401(k)s are pretax dollars — you pay income tax when you withdraw the money — and these savings vehicles have been a bonanza for a lot of Americans.

Not all companies offer 401(k)s, however, and millions of private-sector employees lack access to workplace retirement plans. Availability is just one problem; contributing is another. Many people who have 401(k)s put little if any money into their accounts. With Americans now aging out of the work force in record numbers — according to the Alliance for Lifetime Income, a nonprofit founded by a group of financial-services companies, 4.1 million people will turn 65 this year, part of what the AARP and others have called the “silver tsunami” — the holes in the retirement system are becoming starkly apparent. U.S. Census Bureau data indicates that in 2017 49 percent of Americans ages 55 to 66 had “no personal retirement savings.”

The savings shortfall is no surprise to Teresa Ghilarducci, an economist at the New School in New York. She has long predicted that the shift to 401(k)s would leave vast numbers of Americans without enough money to retire on, reducing many of them to poverty or forcing them to continue working into their late 60s and beyond. That so many people still do not have 401(k)s or find themselves, like Jen Forbus, in such tenuous circumstances when they do, is proof that what she refers to as this “40-year experiment with do-it-yourself pensions” has been “an utter failure.”

It certainly appears to be failing a large segment of the working population, and while Ghilarducci has been making that case for years, more and more people are now coming around to her view. Her latest book, “Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy,” which was published in March, is drawing a lot of attention: She has been interviewed on NPR and C-SPAN and has testified on Capitol Hill.

It is no longer just fellow progressives who are receptive to her message. Ghilarducci used to be an object of scorn on the right, once drawing the megaphonic wrath of Rush Limbaugh. Today, though, even some conservatives admit that her assessment of the retirement system is basically correct. Indeed, Kevin Hassett, who was a senior economic adviser to President Trump, teamed up with Ghilarducci not long ago to devise a plan that would help low- and middle-income Americans save more for retirement. Their proposal is the basis for legislation currently before Congress.

And Ghilarducci recently found her critique being echoed by one of the most powerful figures on Wall Street. In his annual letter to investors, Larry Fink , the chairman and chief executive of BlackRock, one of the world’s largest asset-management companies, wrote that the United States was facing a retirement crisis due in no small part to self-directed retirement financing. Fink said that for most Americans, replacing defined-benefit plans with defined-contribution plans had been “a shift from financial certainty to financial uncertainty” and suggested that it was time to abandon the “you’re on your own” approach.

While that isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, it seems fair to ask whether the country as a whole has been well served by the 401(k) revolution. The main beneficiaries have been higher-income workers; instead of making an economically secure retirement possible for more people, 401(k)s have arguably become another driver of the inequality that is a defining feature of American life.

An illustration of two people taking a brisk walk in an enclosed nature space with a mass of people outside the wall.

When it comes to generating wealth, 401(k)s have been an extraordinary success. The Investment Company Institute, a financial-industry trade group, calculates that the roughly 700,000 401(k) plans now in existence hold more than $7 trillion in assets. But the gains have gone primarily to those who were already at or near the top. According to the Federal Reserve, the value of the median retirement-saving account for households in the 90th to 100th income percentile has more than quintupled during the last 30 years and is currently more than $500,000. In one sense, it is not surprising that the affluent have profited to this degree from 401(k)s: The more money you can invest, the more money you stand to make.

In 2024, annual pretax contributions for employees are capped at $23,000, but with an employer match and possibly also an after-tax contribution (which is permitted under some plans), the maximum can reach $69,000. Workers 50 and over are also allowed to kick in an additional $7,500, potentially pushing the total to $76,500. Needless to say, only a sliver of the U.S. work force can contribute anything like that to their 401(k)s.

The withdrawal rules have evolved in a way that also favors high earners. You are generally not supposed to begin taking money from a 401(k) before you are 59½; doing so could incur a 10 percent penalty (on top of the income-tax hit). What’s more, you can now put off withdrawing money until age 73; previously, you had to begin drawing down 401(k)s by 70½. Those extra years are an added tax benefit for retirees who are in no rush to tap their 401(k)s.

People in lower-income brackets may have also made money from 401(k)s but hardly enough to retire on with Social Security. In 2022, the median retirement account for households in the 20th through 39th percentile held just $20,000. For this segment of the working population, 401(k)s sometimes end up serving a very different purpose. They become a source of emergency funds, not retirement income. But then, for many of these people, retirement seems like an impossibility.

Laura Gendreau directs a program called Stand by Me, a joint venture between the United Way of Delaware and the state government that provides free financial counseling. She says that when she asks clients if they are putting aside any money for retirement, they often look at her in disbelief: “They say, ‘How do you expect me to save for retirement when I’m living paycheck to paycheck?’” She and her colleagues try to identify expenditures that can be eliminated or reduced so that people can start saving at least a small portion of what they earn. But she says that some clients are having such a hard time just getting by that they can’t fathom being able to retire. Sometimes it does not even occur to them to look into whether their employers offer 401(k)s. “They have no idea,” Gendreau says.

Ghilarducci has been hearing this sort of thing for years. Her career in academia began around the time that 401(k)s first emerged, and from the start, she regarded these savings plans with skepticism. For one thing, she feared that a lot of people would never have access to them. But she also felt that 401(k)s were unsuitable for lower-income Americans, who often struggled to save money or who might not have either the time or the knowledge to manage their own investments. In her judgment, the offloading of retirement risk onto workers was worse than just an economic misstep — it represented a betrayal of the social contract.

Ghilarducci, who is 66, has the unusual distinction of being a high school dropout with a Ph.D. in economics. She also has firsthand experience of economic hardship, and her working-class roots have shaped her worldview. She was raised by a single mother in Roseville, Calif., and money was always tight. Despite a turbulent home life, she excelled academically and was able to take advantage of a program that allowed California students with strong grades and test scores to attend schools within the California university system without charge.

After being accepted at the University of California, San Diego, she stopped going to high school — it bored her — and never graduated. A year later, she transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. Neither university knew that she had not completed high school. “They didn’t ask, and I didn’t tell,” she says with a laugh. She majored in economics at Berkeley and also obtained her doctorate there. She then taught at the University of Notre Dame for 25 years (she joined the faculty of the New School in 2008). During that time, she acquired a national reputation for her expertise on retirement.

In 2008, Ghilarducci proposed replacing 401(k)s with “guaranteed retirement accounts,” a program that would combine mandatory individual and employer contributions with tax credits and that would guarantee at least a 3 percent annual return, adjusted for inflation. Her plan drew the wrath of voices on the right — the conservative pundit James Pethokoukis called her “the most dangerous woman in America.”

But her timing proved to be apt: That year, the global financial crisis imperiled the retirement plans of millions of Americans. Ghilarducci suggested that if the government was going to bail out the banks, it also had an obligation to help people whose 401(k)s had tanked. Her idea inflamed the right: Rush Limbaugh attacked her during his daily radio show, which brought her a wave of hate mail.

Her hostility to 401(k)s is partly anchored in a belief that when it comes to retirement, the country was on a better path in the past. In the 1950s and 1960s, many Americans could count on pensions and Social Security to provide them with a decent retirement. It was a different era, of course — back then, men (and it was almost always men) often spent their entire careers with the same companies. And even at their peak, pensions were not available to everyone; only around half of all employees ever had one. Still, in Ghilarducci’s view, it was a time when the United States put more emphasis on the interests of working-class Americans, including ensuring that they could retire with some degree of economic security.

She portrays the move to defined contribution retirement plans as part of the sharp rightward turn that the United States took under President Ronald Reagan, when the notion of individual responsibility became economic dogma — what the Yale University political scientist Jacob Hacker has called “the great risk shift.” The downside of this shift was laid bare by the great recession. Many older Americans lost their savings and were forced to scavenge for work.

This was the subject of the journalist Jessica Bruder’s book “Nomadland,” for which Ghilarducci was interviewed and that was the basis for the Oscar-winning film of the same title. To Ghilarducci, the portraits in “Nomadland” — of lives upended, of the indignity of being old and having to scramble for food and shelter — presaged the insecure future that awaited millions of other older Americans. And Ghilarducci believes that with record numbers of people now reaching retirement age, that grim future is arriving.

Her new book makes a powerful case for why all working people deserve a comfortable, dignified retirement and why, for so many Americans, the current retirement system is incapable of providing that. Her nationwide book tour has had the feel of a victory lap, although the vindication she can plausibly claim is no cause for celebration. “It’s the pinnacle of my career because what I told people would happen is happening,” she says. “So it’s a big told-you-so, and that told-you-so is on the backs of around 40 million middle-class workers who will be poor or near-poor elders.”

Ghilarducci finds it outrageous that Americans who don’t have enough money set aside for retirement are now being told that the solution to their financial woes is to just keep working. Forcing senior citizens to stay on the job is cruel, she says, and especially so if it involves physically demanding labor. She has observed that older workers often have “a shame hunch” — their body language suggests embarrassment. They are spending their last years in quiet humiliation.

To Ghilarducci, all of this represents a retreat from the ideals that fueled America’s prosperity and made the United States a beacon of opportunity. As she writes in her book, “A signature achievement of the postwar period — the democratization of who has control over the pace and content of their time after a lifetime of work — is being reversed.”

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, many companies, in addition to providing their employees with pensions, offered tax-deferred profit-sharing programs, which were available mostly to executives. But there was a lot of murkiness surrounding these defined-contribution plans — and a lot of concern that the I.R.S. might eventually ban them. When Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1978, it included an addition to the Internal Revenue Code that was intended to provide greater clarity about how these plans were to be structured and who could participate. The provision, which took effect in 1980, was called Section 401(k). According to a 2014 Bloomberg article, the staff members who drafted it thought it was a minor regulatory tweak, of no particular consequence. One former senior congressional aide was quoted as saying it was “an insignificant provision in a very large bill. It took on a life of its own afterwards.”

That’s because Ted Benna saw something in that new section of the Internal Revenue Code that had eluded the people who wrote it. Benna, a retirement-benefits consultant, was in his suburban Philadelphia office on a Saturday afternoon in 1979, trying to figure out how to devise a deferred-compensation plan for one of his firm’s clients, a local bank. At the time, the top marginal tax rate was 70 percent, and the bank wanted to see if there was a way to award bonuses to its executives that could limit their tax bill.

As Benna read the provisions of section 401(k), a solution dawned on him: The language seemed to indicate that he could create a plan in which the bonuses were put in a tax-deferred retirement plan. There was a catch, though. Under the terms of 401(k), this could be done only if rank-and-file employees participated in the plan. Benna knew that getting them to agree to set aside some of their pay would not be easy, so he came up with a sweetener — he proposed that the bank would partly match the contributions of its employees.

The bank balked at Benna’s proposal; it was concerned that regulators would rule the scheme illegal. Benna’s own firm decided to implement the idea, however, and it proved wildly popular with the company’s 50 or so employees. Benna and his colleagues called the plan “cash-op,” but the name never caught on, and instead came to be known as the 401(k). The new savings vehicle eventually did run into government resistance, when the Reagan administration, concerned about the lost tax revenues, tried to eliminate 401(k)s in 1986 — this notwithstanding the fact that 401(k)s, with their promise of individual empowerment, seemed emblematic of the so-called Reagan Revolution. But by then it was too late. A number of companies were already offering 401(k)s to their employees, and the financial industry, eyeing a lucrative new revenue stream, threw its lobbying muscle behind these investment plans.

Benna is 82 now, and I recently met with him in York, Pa. (He was there visiting family; he lives near Williamsport, Pa.) He is still working. He told me that his religious faith had compelled him to put off his own retirement. “The Creator didn’t create us to spend 30 years doing nothing,” he said. A tall, unassuming man, Benna suggested that we meet at the Cracker Barrel in York. There, over iced tea and coffee, we talked about the trillion-dollar business that resulted from his close reading of section 401(k). Benna had been quoted in the past voicing some misgivings about these savings plans. He told the magazine Smart Money in 2011, for instance, that he had given rise to a “monster.”

But he explained to me that the remorse he expressed had nothing to do with 401(k)s themselves, which he said had helped convert millions of Americans from “spenders into savers.” Rather, what he regretted was the complexity of many plans — he thought a lot of employees were overwhelmed by all the investment options — and the fact that the financial-services industry profited from them to the degree that it did. Benna said that the advent of the 401(k) turned the mutual-fund industry into the colossus that it is today and that too many fund managers charged what he considers unjustifiably high fees. “Over the life of an investment, it is a real hit — it is gigantic,” he says.

Yet Benna rejects the idea that 401(k)s took the country in the wrong direction. He contends that traditional pensions were doomed with or without 401(k)s. He recalls visiting Bethlehem Steel in the 1980s to talk about 401(k)s. “I told them that they had to start helping their employees save for retirement, and their H.R. person said, ‘Our employees don’t need to do that because we take care of them for life.’ And what happened to that?” (Bethlehem Steel filed for bankruptcy in 2001, and the government had to fulfill its pension obligations.) Likewise, he doesn’t think it is true that 401(k)s have really only benefited the well-off. He mentioned his brother-in-law, who lived in York and worked as a supervisor at Caterpillar, the construction-equipment manufacturer. When Caterpillar announced in 1996 that it was relocating its York plant to Illinois, he chose to take early retirement rather than uproot his family. “He told me that was only possible because of his 401(k),” Benna said. But he conceded that too many people are being let down by the retirement system and that something needs to be done to help them save for their later years.

Benna is one of a number of experts who believe that mandates will ultimately be needed to improve retirement financing — that the voluntary approach, in which companies decide whether they want to sponsor 401(k)s and employees decide whether they wish to participate, is leaving too many gaps. He thinks all companies above a certain size should have to offer employees 401(k)s or alternative retirement-savings options. (Starting next year, employers that establish new 401(k) plans will be required to automatically enroll workers in those plans. There is still no obligation, however, to actually provide the plans themselves.)

Other countries go further. Australia’s Superannuation Guarantee requires companies to contribute the equivalent of 11 percent of an employee’s monthly pay to an investment account that is controlled by the worker, who can also put in additional money. The “Super,” as it is known, includes full-time and part-time workers and has proved to be enormously successful. With its relatively small population — just 27 million — Australia now has the world’s fourth-highest per capita contributions to a pension system, and almost 80 percent of its work force is covered. BlackRock’s Larry Fink says that “Australia’s experience with Supers could be a good model for American policymakers to study and build on.”

The desire to give less affluent Americans the chance to build a decent nest egg is one that is shared across ideological lines. That in itself is a big change from, say, the debate about health care reform, which bitterly divided liberals and conservatives. (It is worth recalling that the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010 without a single Republican vote.) In fact, concern about the retirement-savings shortfall has become a rare source of bipartisan cooperation in Washington, and it has also yielded some unlikely alliances.

A few years ago, Kevin Hassett, who was chairman of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers for a portion of Donald Trump’s presidency, became familiar with Ghilarducci’s work and sent her, unsolicited, the draft of a paper he was writing about the retirement-savings gap. She replied enthusiastically, and he suggested that she write the paper with him. Their partnership eventually yielded a plan for helping lower- and middle-income Americans save for retirement.

The idea they hatched was to make the Thrift Savings Plan, a government-sponsored retirement program for federal employees and members of the uniformed services, open to all Americans. T.S.P., which in total assets is the largest defined-contribution program in the country, includes automatic enrollment and matching contributions from the government. A number of states now offer retirement-savings plans for people whose employers don’t provide 401(k)s, but none of these include matching contributions, which many experts believe are an important incentive for getting workers to set aside a portion of their own salaries.

Ghilarducci and Hassett think that only a federal program in which savings accounts of eligible workers are topped up with government money will significantly increase the participation and savings rates of low-income Americans. Their proposal is the basis for the Retirement Savings for Americans Act, a bill recently introduced by the U.S. senators John Hickenlooper and Thom Tillis and the U.S. representatives Terri Sewell and Lloyd Smucker. Two are Democrats; two are Republicans.

This past January, another bipartisan collaboration — between Alicia Munnell, who was an economist in the Clinton administration and who now serves as the director of Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research, and Andrew Biggs, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank — published a paper calling for a reduction or an end to the 401(k) tax benefit.

Their research showed that it had not led to more participation in the program nor had it significantly increased the amount that Americans in the aggregate were saving for retirement. It was mostly just a giveaway to upper-income investors and a costly one at that. They estimated that it deprived the Treasury of almost $200 billion in revenue annually. They proposed reducing or even ending the tax-deferred status of 401(k)s and using the added revenue to shore up Social Security.

When I spoke to Biggs, he emphasized that he was not against 401(k)s. On balance, he thinks that they have worked well, and he also says that some of the criticism aimed at them is no longer valid. For instance, the do-it-yourself aspect is overstated: Most plans, for instance, now offer target-date funds, which automatically adjust your asset allocation depending on your age and goals, freeing you from having to continuously readjust your portfolio yourself. He acknowledges that rescinding the tax preferences could be tricky politically: The people who have chiefly benefited from them are also the people who write checks to campaigns. But he is confident that Americans can ultimately be persuaded to give up the tax advantages. “If we say to people, ‘Look, we can slash your Social Security benefits or increase your Social Security taxes, or we can reduce this useless subsidy that goes to rich people who don’t need the money’ — well, that’s a little more compelling.”

Hassett told me that his work with Ghilarducci does not represent any softening of his faith in the free market. Quite the opposite: He sees government intervention to boost retirement savings as a necessary step to preserving American capitalism. Hassett has been concerned for some time that the country is drifting toward socialism — the subject of his most recent book — and part of the reason is that too many Americans are economically marginalized and have come to feel that the system doesn’t work to their benefit.

“They feel disconnected, and they are disconnected,” Hassett says. Having the government help them save for retirement would be prudent. “It would give them more of a stake in the success of the free-enterprise system,” he says. “I think it’s important for long-run political stability that everybody gets a stake.”

Jen Forbus is not economically marginalized, but many in her community struggle. Lorain, a city of about 65,000 on the shore of Lake Erie, has never recovered from the loss of a Ford assembly plant and two steel plants. Around 28 percent of Lorain’s residents now live in poverty. By the grim standards of her area, Forbus is doing well. “I’m definitely privileged,” she says. Even so, she knows that despite her diligent saving and careful budgeting, there is a good chance that she will not be able to retire at 65. She dreads the prospect of having to remain in the labor market as an elderly person. “Something like waitressing — past a certain age, that’s really difficult,” she says. And she admits that she finds it jarring that even for someone like her, retirement may be an unachievable objective. “I do feel our system fails too many people,” she says.

Read by Malcolm Hillgartner

Narration produced by Tanya Pérez

Engineered by Steven Szczesniak

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Essay on Tsunami for Studnets and Children
500+ Words Essay on Tsunami. Tsunami is a phenomenon where a series of strong waves that are responsible for the surge in water sometimes reach the heights in many meters. This is a natural disaster that is caused due to the volcano eruption in the ocean beds. Also, a phenomenon like landslides and earthquakes contributes to reasons for a tsunami.
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The first essay is a long essay on Tsunami of 400-500 words. This long essay about Tsunami is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Tsunami of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.
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500 Words Essay On Tsunami. A tsunami is a natural disaster that originates under water and is brought on by the waves that an earthquake causes to be generated in the ocean. The tsunami's impacts were initially reported by Greeks on Earth. They claim that earthquakes on land and tsunamis are identical. The sole distinction between a tsunami ...
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Essay # 1. Meaning of Tsunami: ADVERTISEMENTS: When a large earthquake happens beneath an ocean floor, it can change the level of the floor suddenly, raising and lowering it substantially. This produces a large disturbance in the sea. The size and energy of disturbance depends on the magnitude of the earth quake.
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The worst effects of the great wave were observed in Indonesia, where the death toll exceeded 160,000 people, and the overall damages almost reached $4. Due to a displacement of sea water as a result of displaced debris from landslides, a series of waves that has a potential of causing a tsunami is formed.
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Tsunami waves can be very long (as much as 60 miles, or 100 kilometers) and be as far as one hour apart. They are able to cross entire oceans without great loss of energy. The Indian Ocean tsunami ...
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1 hour! Tsunami's Reasons and Effects Essay. For many inhabitants of the Earth, a tsunami threat looks like an abstract and very exotic danger. However, the vagaries of nature in recent years are such that it is quite difficult to feel completely protected from such a danger. Moreover, even in a small lake, under a certain confluence of ...
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Essay on "World Tsunami Awareness Day". "Title: Riding the Wave of Knowledge: World Tsunami Awareness Day. Each November 5th, the world unites to honor World Tsunami Awareness Day. We reflect on Tsunamis, nature's most powerful and unpredictable force. This day is more than a calendar marker; it reminds us of nature's might and the ...
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The Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 and Its Consequences Essay. Among various natural disasters, tsunamis deserve particular attention for the combination of their destructive character and opportunities to prevent human losses. An event that entirely transformed standard scientific approaches to this phenomenon was the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
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Students can check out essay writing for more tips to write an elaborative essay. Sources of Tsunami . Tsunamis are large ocean waves originating from the epicentre of the oceans due to tectonic disturbances, volcanic eruptions or major underwater landslides. Tsunami waves can also be originated because of a large meteorite or from the ...
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Paragraph on Tsunami in 250 Words. The term "tsunami" refers to tidal waves. As a result, a tsunami is characterised as a series of extraordinarily long-wavelength ocean waves. Strong waves of water are formed by the tsunami and move landward. As a result, there is a massive and long-lasting inland water movement.
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A tsunami is a series of waves caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions. On September 29, 2009, a tsunami caused substantial damage and loss of life in American Samoa, Samoa, and Tonga. The tsunami was generated by a large earthquake in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions ...
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After a tsunami. Stay clear of damaged or flooded areas and downed power lines. Listen for further alerts and instructions about evacuation zones and shelters. Use texts and social media to ...
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Essay on Preparedness for Tsunamis. Essay # 1. Definition of Tsunami: The word tsunami is a Japanese word, represented by two characters: tsu, meaning, 'harbour', and nami meaning, 'wave'. Tsunami is a set of ocean waves caused by any large, abrupt disturbance on the sea- surface. If the disturbance is close to the coastline, local ...
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The tsunami and its aftermath were responsible for immense destruction and loss on the rim of the Indian Ocean. On December 26, 2004, at 7:59 am local time, an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Over the next seven hours, a tsunami —a series of immense ocean waves—triggered ...
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Tsunami Preparedness
Take Care of Yourself. It's normal to have a lot of bad feelings, stress, or anxiety after a disaster or other emergency. Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to help you deal with stress. You can contact the Disaster Distress Helpline for free if you need to talk to someone. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
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Disaster Distress Helpline: CALL or TEXT 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish). People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990. Connect with family, friends, and others in your community. Take care of yourself and each other, and know when and how to seek help.
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