ITIC Training Program Summary, 2005 - 2023 (click to download list)

ITIC Tsunami Training Locations, 2005-September 2023

As part of its mandate and functions under IOC Resolution X-23 (1977), the ITIC assists countries in establishing warning centers and improving tsunami preparedness, and for decades has annually conducted a training program.  As an international center, ITIC also works to monitor and improve warning services globally, and serves as an information resource for tsunami events (with WDC-MGG tsunamis), clearinghouse for education and awareness materials, and encourages research that will improve mitigation practices. 

The ITIC Training Program consists of a Hawaii-based training (ITP-Hawaii) where Hawaii is used as a working example of an end-to-end system of warning, response, and preparedness for both distant and local tsunamis, and an International training (ITP-International) where ITIC organizes a regional or country-specific training.   In 2018, the ITP-Hawaii took place in Chile and used Chile as the working example of the end-to-end system - the 1st time it has been conducted outside of Hawaii. In 2019, the ITP-Hawaii will return to Hawaii, but future ITP-Hawaii will explore hosting by other countries with working systems.  The ITP-Hawaii emphasizes small classes where the actual practitioners can answer questions and share real-life experiences.  The ITP-Intl allows for international experts to visit a tsunami-prone country to engage a much larger and broader set of stakeholders.  Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the ITIC has conducted more than 130 multi-day trainings around the world, training more than 3300 persons.  

Topics have covered tsunami early warning systems, warning and emergency response standard operating procedures, inundation modeling, evacuation planning, and exercises.  Trainings typically target national warning and emergency response staff and stakeholders, as well as businesses and communities when there is interest.

The ITP-Hawaii is an example where a Tsunami Information Center  (ITIC) works closely with the Pacific / Caribbean Tsunami Service Provider (TSP, PTWC) and its local emergency response and preparedness groups (Hawaii State and County Civil Defense and Pacific Tsunami Museum) to conduct a training focused on practical and real-life sharing on the operational aspects of warning and response.   Participants are nominated by their country through IOC Circular Letter, and selection is based on country/regional need and commitment.   The training emphasizes stakeholder coordination, and as such, ideally brings simultaneously warning center and the disaster management staff from one country to the same training.

In 2020, the ITIC was designed as an IOC Ocean Teacher Global Academy Specialized Training Center (OTGA).  During the OTGA Phase 2 2020-2023 and beyond, the ITIC will expand its learning modality from in-person to online and blended training courses. The courses will be those that ITIC already teaches in-person through the ITP-Hawaii and ITP-International, and include:

• Tsunami Awareness, 1-day course
• Tsunami Early Warning Systems, 40-hr course
• Tsunami Warning Center and Tsunami Emergency Response Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs, IOC TS 76), 40-hr course
• Tsunami Evacuation Maps, Plans, and Procedures (TEMPP, IOC TS MG 82), 80-hr course
• Tsunami Warning Center Staff Basic Competencies, 120-hr course

For the OTGA courses, the ITIC will work with other OTGA Regional and Specialized Training Centers, and seek to partner with universities or other entities to develop accredited courses that satisfy advanced degree requirements.

The ITIC conducts training throughout the US (ITP-USA) in support of the US National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. In 2010 (updated in 2020), it developed a 1-day basic Tsunami Awareness training course for US Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency. Course AWR-217 targets stakeholders with response responsibility. It provides a basic understanding of tsunamis, hazard assessment, warning and dissemination, and community response strategies to effectively reduce tsunami risk. The course goal is to enhance participants’ abilities to support their organizational preparedness and response efforts.