How to read a tsunami bulletin and find local instructions

Check the source, time and coastal area first

Find the issuing center, publication time and named coastal areas before interpreting the headline. Then check whether a newer message exists. A screenshot shared in a chat may resurface hours later, after conditions have changed. An earthquake’s origin time differs from a bulletin’s issue time, and both need a clearly understood time zone.

For example, seeing your country’s name does not mean that the same conditions apply everywhere along its coast. Match the named coastal segment to your actual location. If the boundary description is unfamiliar, consult an official map or local emergency management office. A summary without a time and area is difficult to use responsibly.

Understand NOAA’s four message levels

NOAA/NWS uses different terms for different expected effects and responses. The levels are not interchangeable and can change as observations arrive. Other countries may use different names or alert procedures, so follow the explanations published by the responsible center in your location.

• Warning: coastal inundation may be widespread, with a tsunami expected or already under way. Follow local evacuation directions toward higher terrain or farther inland.
• Advisory: waves and currents could endanger people at the shore. Avoid entering the sea or approaching beaches and channels; follow local restrictions.
• Watch: a distant earthquake has created a possible tsunami threat. Keep checking official updates and be ready for instructions.
• Information Statement: the event poses no threat, or it is so distant that its threat is still being assessed. Read the full message and later official updates.

Do not wait for a bulletin when natural warnings occur

NOAA identifies strong or long coastal shaking, a sudden unusual ocean rise or withdrawal and a loud ocean roar as natural tsunami warnings. One sign can be enough. Protect yourself during shaking, then move out of the hazard zone toward high ground or inland as soon as you can move safely.

Do not wait for a message to load on your phone. NOAA also advises people on a beach or near the water who feel an earthquake to move away from the water when safe, regardless of their estimate of its strength. Never approach the shore to watch. The first wave may not be the largest, and local authorities decide when return is safe.

Connect the information to a route you know

Before a coastal visit, establish whether your hotel, campsite, school or workplace lies in a local evacuation zone. Find official routes and practice an appropriate route with everyone’s mobility needs in mind. NOAA recommends planning to reach safety on foot where possible because roads may be damaged or congested. Local maps define the route; a circle around an epicenter does not.

Ask your group a practical question: if the usual waterfront exit is closed, what is the next landmark? A clear answer is more useful than a generic leaflet nobody has read. Record the local alert channels and carry a paper copy of your plan. Visitors can ask local emergency services or accommodation staff for location-specific information.

Understand the app’s bulletin feed and its limits

Earth & Volcano Explorer includes a NOAA NTWC bulletin screen that needs a configured backend. The current APK does not have a backend address configured, so its tsunami feed requires that setup. An empty list, connection error or old cache cannot establish that there is no threat. The app does not currently deliver real background push notifications or earthquake early warning.

A tsunami-related field in a USGS earthquake record is not an official coastal warning bulletin. Magnitude alone cannot establish coastal safety either. When connected, consult the appropriate official center, and follow local instructions on evacuation and return. If sharing information, include the complete message so relatives can see its time, area and context.