Tsunami risk mitigation and the issue of public awareness

Selected results from a pilot investigation into public awareness of tsunami risk in the Sydney region are presented. This is fundamentally necessary for developing appropriate risk mitigation and preparedness strategies. The questionnaire survey of members of the public and coastal council officer’s indicates that little has been learned since the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster. The findings show that the strategy of Emergency Management Australia for developing awareness and building capacity are both timely and appropriate.