Educating the Next Generation on Tsunami Preparedness

In commemoration of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and in alignment with the recommendations of the A-PAD International Symposium 2024, A-PAD SL conducted a tsunami awareness session for the Junior 3 students at the Elizabeth Moir School on the 10th December 2024. The primary goal of the event was to educate the younger generation on tsunami preparedness and build a more resilient community, as many of the students were not familiar with the necessary precautions to take in the event of a tsunami.

Team A-PAD SL led an engaging and interactive presentation followed by a Q&A session, addressing key topics such as recognizing the signs of a tsunami, preparedness strategies and how to respond during one, and the importance of early warning systems. It was incredible to witness the enthusiasm of the young students as they learned how to stay safe and better prepare for a potential tsunami. Furthermore, they showcased their creative and informative artwork on tsunami safety measures which they had created for the recent tsunami awareness day. It was a great initiative of how we could educate the younger generations on tsunami preparedness through both creativity and knowledge.

By educating the younger generation on tsunami awareness, they are empowered to become champions on disaster risk reduction. A remarkable example is the story of Tilly Smith, the young British girl who saved hundreds of lives in Thailand during the 2004 tsunami by recognizing the signs and alerting others. As an island nation, Sri Lanka has the responsibility to strengthen its tsunami preparedness and raise awareness. While we cannot prevent tsunamis, we can significantly mitigate the potential loss of life and property damage by being better prepared and raising awareness.