Tsunami Awareness Activity Raises Preparedness Among Samos Island's Students

The event kicked-off with an engaging presentation delivered by representatives from National Observatory of Athens (NOA). The presentation shed light on the operations and alert services of the National Tsunami Warning Center of Greece who also acts a Tsunami Service Provider in North-Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and Connected Seas region, providing valuable insights into earthquakes, tsunamis, their causes, and self-protection measures. The students and teachers were then introduced to the IOC-UNESCO EU DG ECHO CoastWAVE project which is currently implementing Tsunami Ready in Samos where one of the aims of the project is to recognize Samos community as ‘IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Community’.

Following the presentation, an interactive quiz game was organized, allowing the high school students to test their understanding of the topics covered in the presentation. The quiz served as a recapitulation of the knowledge imparted during the earlier session. A subsequent Q&A session encouraged students and teachers to pose questions, with a particular emphasis on scenarios involving a tsunami wave while swimming or fishing at sea. Concerns on evacuation time and receiving timely warnings were also addressed, alongside inquiries regarding the importance of tide gauges in early warning systems. The session further incorporated videos showcasing the Samos-Aegean tsunami of 2020 and the Tohoku tsunami of 2011, offering real-life perspectives on the potential devastation caused by these natural disasters.

Impressed by the organized activity’s impact, teachers and directors from both high schools expressed their interest to integrate similar tsunami awareness material into their regular curriculum, noting that the existing Geography and Geology textbooks contain information about earthquakes and tsunamis, educators seek to enrich the content by incorporating awareness and evacuation strategies.

Participants were also provided with a Sea Level Related Hazards Risk Perception Survey Questionnaire to gather valuable insights on sea-level-related hazards. The teachers shared the questionnaire's hyperlink and QR code on the school platform, enabling individuals above the age of 14 to contribute their perspectives on risk perception and preparedness.

The tsunami awareness activity succeeded in raising awareness and preparedness levels among the students of Samos Island. By fostering a deeper understanding of the potential threats posed by tsunamis and imparting vital knowledge on evacuation procedures, the event contributes to a safer and more resilient community. Through the proactive efforts of the educational institutions and engagement from the local authorities, Samos Island takes significant strides towards becoming better equipped to handle natural disasters.

As the event concluded, participants left with a sense of empowerment and a renewed commitment to sharing their newfound knowledge with friends, families, and the wider community. The tsunami awareness activity stands as a testament to the importance of proactive education and collective action in safeguarding lives and fostering resilience in the face of natural hazards.