TSUNAMI EXERCISE

The Tsunami Exercise challenges amateur radio operators to complete several tasks that are designed to raise awareness, enhance preparedness and practice amateur radio communications skills.

The TSUNAMI EXERCISE DASHBOARD below shows the messages received through tactical address TSUNAMI. 

The Emcomm Training Organization also provided feedback for messages addressed to ETO-DRILL. The feedback and evaluation can be viewed here: https://emcomm-training.org/Non-ETO_Exercises.html

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) graciously provided a scenario webpage that shows "Did you feel it?" amateur radio intensity reports received via Winlink. The scenario can be viewed here.

ℹ️ INTRODUCTION

WHAT

This Tsunami Exercise encourages operators to send amateur radio messages to tactical address TSUNAMI during Tsunami Preparedness Week.  The exercise encourages radio operators to improve their all-hazards preparedness and practice radio operations. This exercise is a volunteer effort. ↘️ Download the Tsunami Exercise Instructions here.

WHEN

• Saturday, March 29, 2025, is the intended exercise date. 

• Alternate dates: We welcome messages submission during Tsunami Preparedness Week from March 22 - March 30, 2025.

WHO

• All interested amateur radio operators are welcome to participate

• The Tsunami Exercise is a collaboration of ARES LAX Northeast, San Diego ARES , Hawaii ARES, San Joaquin Valley Section, Whatcom County (WA) ACS/ARES, Snohomish County (WA) ACS , WLNET-OE, Winlink Treff and the Emcomm Training Organization.

HOW

• The exercise asks radio operators to complete 6 message tasks and send them to tactical address TSUNAMI: 

  • an ICS-214 Activity Log, 

  • a Winlink Check-in,  

  • USGS Did-you-feel-it? (DYFI) report, 

  • Welfare Bulletin Board Message, 

  • ICS-213 General Message, and 

  • Winlink Check-out.

• ↘️ Download the Tsunami Exercise Instructions here. Please read the instructions carefully, as they ask you to complete additional tasks with each message.

WHERE

• You may operate from your home shack or from a deployed location.

• You may use any mode and band, including Telnet. We encourage operators to use RF.

OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS

This exercise assumes

• basic familiarity with Winlink

• the latest Winlink Standard Templates are installed

• operators can operate and fulfill tasks on their own accord

• operators are able and willing to follow basic instructions and complete tasks

❓FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: We live far from the coast, can we still participate?

A: Yes!  The exercise stresses all-hazards preparedness. A Tsunami is a specific flood type. The exercise adds rain so inland areas can include flooding and flash flooding as part of their exercise.

Q: Can international groups participate?

A: Yes! All interested amateur radio operators are welcome to participate.

Q: Where do the messages go?

A: Messages addressed to TSUNAMI are collected and processed by LAXNORTHEAST and then displayed on the dashboard above. DYFI messages addressed to USGS are collected and processed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as part of their Did-you-feel-it? program.  USGS welcomes exercise messages from amateur radio operators.

Q: May I/we submit traffic to TSUNAMI (and USGS for DYFI) on behalf of others, e.g. voice relays?

A: Yes!  But please ensure that the location on all forms reflects the location of the originating voice station(s) you are relaying for, not that of the relay station. That is important on all forms but particularly important on the USGS DYFI form, because USGS wants to attribute the sender's Mercalli Intensity report to the originating location.

Q: My WELFARE BULLETIN/ICS-213/DYFI Message is not showing on the dashboard. Why?

A1: Most likely the FormData.txt is missing. This happens when you click Submit and the form still has required fields. The best solution is to start over and fill in all fields before clicking Submit.

Also, check the Welfare Bulletin Message in your Sent folder. Click on Attachments. Is the FormData.txt listed? 

A2: The date might also be incorrect. The dashboard only show messages dated March 22 - March 30. Check your dates and resubmit a fresh Welfare Bulletin Board if necessary.