Building capacities for the next generation of tsunami and coastal-hazard warning systems

As coastal populations grow and infrastructure expands into hazard-prone areas, the need for effective tsunami and coastal-hazard warning systems has never been greater. Climate change is further amplifying risks, increasing the urgency for warning systems that are not only scientifically robust, but also operational, people-centred, and locally actionable.

Across the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean (NEAM) regions, recent capacity-building initiatives under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO's Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme reflect a clear shift toward fully operational, end-to-end early warning and mitigation systems. Together, these efforts highlight both substantial progress and the critical gaps that still need to be addressed.

To date, 100 coastal communities worldwide have achieved Tsunami Ready recognition, marking a major milestone for the programme. With the next target set at 200 communities, the focus is increasingly on turning preparedness standards into everyday operational reality. Progress across regions can be explored through the Tsunami Ready viewer .

Immersive training for real-world tsunami operations

One of the cornerstones of global tsunami capacity building remains the International Tsunami Information Centre's ITP-TEWS Hawaii programme. Delivered in close collaboration with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), the 2025 session provided a two-week, hands-on immersion in real-time tsunami operations.

Rather than focusing solely on theory, the programme placed participants in realistic, high-pressure scenarios that mirror the uncertainty of actual tsunami events. This approach served a dual purpose: it strengthened individual operational skills while also helping international agencies identify areas where procedures, terminology, and message interpretation still need harmonization.

The ITP-TEWS format has become an indispensable tool for building interoperability across the Pacific and beyond, ensuring that warning messages can be understood and acted upon consistently across borders.

From hazard models to community action in South Asia

In South Asia, capacity building focused on one of the most critical operational challenges: translating hazard modelling into practical tools that communities can use.

In March 2025, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), in cooperation with UNESCO's IOC, hosted a major workshop in Hyderabad on evacuation maps, plans, and procedures. The event brought together practitioners to develop concrete, community-level products aligned with the Tsunami Ready Programme.

Participants worked on evacuation maps, route networks, signage approaches, risk-communication elements, and standard operating procedures (SOPs). The workshop produced tangible outputs, including map prototypes, planning templates, and SOP components, reinforcing the growing recognition that strong scientific modelling must be paired with local planning, clear communication, and community engagement.

Strengthening local readiness in the NEAM region

A similar emphasis on operational readiness guided the EU DG-ECHO CoastWAVE 2.0 project's "National to Local Standard Operating Procedures Workshop" held in Cascais, Portugal from 27-30 October 2025.

The workshop brought together civil protection authorities, national tsunami warning centres, municipal leaders, and technical advisors from across the NEAM region. Its objective was to translate national-level SOP standards into locally applicable response plans that meet IOC guidance ( MG-76 , MG-82 ).

Participants reviewed existing procedures for detection, alerting, public communication, evacuation, and all-clear protocols. The discussions revealed common challenges, particularly mismatches between national warning messages and local decision-making processes. Addressing these gaps is essential to ensure that warnings lead to timely and effective local action.

Regional assessments as roadmaps for investment

Beyond individual training events, two major regional capacity assessments released in 2024-2025 provide the most comprehensive overview to date of tsunami preparedness in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) capacity assessment documents two decades of progress since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Advances include expanded seismic and sea-level monitoring networks, strengthened national warning centres, and increased participation in drills and exercises. At the same time, the assessment highlights persistent vulnerabilities, such as incomplete local evacuation planning, uneven SOP quality, limited integration with multi-hazard frameworks, and chronic underfunding for system maintenance. The report calls for targeted investment in community-level tools, regular SOP training, improved cross-agency coordination, and sustained financing for critical infrastructure.

A parallel Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS) capacity assessment echoes many of these findings. It emphasizes the need for standardized procedures, reinforced national warning capacities, and clearer pathways for translating scientific information into actionable local guidance. With many Pacific communities facing multiple, compounding hazards, including tsunamis, storm surge, volcanic activity, and sea-level rise, the assessment underscores the urgency of integrated and interoperable warning systems.

A global shift toward operational preparedness

Taken together, these developments reveal a shared global trajectory. Capacity-building efforts are increasingly moving beyond general training toward operational practice, testing communication chains, validating procedures, and exposing gaps that only become visible under realistic, crisis-based scenarios.

At the same time, recognition frameworks such as the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme , are strengthening the link between local implementation and international standards, creating clear incentives for rigorous, sustained preparedness. Regional capacity assessments are now serving as practical investment roadmaps, helping governments and donors prioritize the most urgent upgrades.

Together, these efforts demonstrate a global shift toward tsunami and coastal-hazard preparedness that is practical, locally grounded, and focused on ensuring that early warnings lead to effective action when communities need them most.