These guidelines have been prepared in fulfillment of a task of the Tsunami Information Centre (NEAMTIC) Project of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) of the Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean
This guidebook summaries steps that will guide hotels to prepare for tsunami hazards. This guidebook is to be used by hotel management; it is intended to direct them on how to build the hotel’s capacity in evacuation planning for a tsunami emergency. The guidebook outlines the necessary steps to be undertaken, such as preliminary preparedness assessment using a checklist from the Tsunami Ready’s Toolbox, understanding the warnings (natural warning and official warning), deciding on an evacuation strategy, consideration for a hotel to be an evacuation area and the standard operating procedures for a tsunami emergency.
This guidebook is divided into five parts. The first part provides brief information on what is a tsunami and why it is important for hotels to address this hazard as part of their business. Part 2 describes the tsunami hazard in the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Seas and efforts that have been taken in response to mitigate the hazard. Part 3 focuses on aspects that hotels need to take into consideration in building tsunami preparedness. This part also elaborates on three different situations that influence evacuation strategies.
Part 4 elaborates on considerations for a hotel to decides if the hotel could be a tsunami evacuation area, including determining the evacuation place in the hotel premises and on the signage needed for the evacuation place. Finally, part 5 highlights the evacuation planning and procedures for the hotel that may serve as their standard operating procedures in a tsunami emergency.
This guidebook explains the steps in building tsunami preparedness, however, to successfully develop the plans and procedures the hotel has to do all the groundwork. It is recommended to work through a participatory approach with all hotel stakeholders (staff and management) to simultaneously build in capacity and ownership. At the same time, the hotel should also coordinate with the local disaster management office and/or other local authorities and stakeholders working on disaster and emergency management (for example red cross) to know more about the tsunami risks in the area as well as other local disaster management issues.
