Massive Earthquake Strikes Japan, Tsunami Alerts Issued

March 11, 2011 -- A powerful 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a tsunami that caused massive devastation on the island nation and prompted tsunami warnings throughout the Pacific including for Hawaii and along the U.S. west coast. A recent report from the National Research Council’s Ocean Studies Board assesses U.S. capabilities for detecting tsunamis and communicating the potential threat to coastal communities. The Research Council’s Disasters Roundtable regularly brings together experts to discuss disaster preparedness and recovery efforts, including an assessment of lessons learned from the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.