I. In order to be prepared for evacuation
in the event of a tsunami, employees must
familiarize themselves with civil defense warnings
and procedures and tsunami evacuation maps. This
information is published in the white pages of
the Honolulu telephone directory; the shaded areas
on the maps identify tsunami evacuation zones throughout Oahu.

II. In the event of a tsunami, employees shall
follow the requirements and guidelines of this
directive and related departmental and city directives.

TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED DURING NORMAL WORKING HOURS

A. Employees Working Within a Tsunami Evacuation Zone

1. In general, upon direction by their immediate
supervisor, employees shall leave the evacuation
zone by foot or vehicle as quickly as possible.

However, those working in concrete and/or steel
buildings of six or more stories should be safe
if they move to the third floor or above and remain
there until the “all clear” is announced over the emergency alert system.

2. Time and resources permitting, employees
will attempt to relocate previously identified equipment
and supplies to safe areas outside of the evacuation
zone prior to their departure from that area.

Under no circumstances, however, will the relocation
of any city property from an evacuation zone be
undertaken less than 45 minutes prior to the estimated wave arrival.

3. Once employees reach safe areas, further
travel should not be attempted until the “all clear”
is announced over the emergency alert system.
Unnecessary travel may jeopardize the evacuation
of others, interfere with the movement of emergency
vehicles, and overload streets and roadways to the point of gridlock.

4. It is not essential that evacuees use public
shelters or refuge areas for survival. If evacuation
to a designated shelter or refuge area is impractical
or impossible (due to lack of time, heavy traffic, or
other constraints), evacuees should individually
relocate to any area outside of the evacuation zone
even though cover from the elements or other necessities are not available.

B. Employees Working Outside of a Tsunami Evacuation Zone

1. Employees shall remain in place until the
“all clear” is announced over the emergency alert
system. To avoid traffic gridlock, employees
should curtail all nonessential travel and avoid
roadways in or near the evacuation zones. Employees
must recognize that the avoidance of traffic gridlock
requires that everyone exercise restraint.

2. However, supervisors may excuse employees on
a case-by-case basis when employees demonstrate a
valid need for exclusion from the requirements of
this directive. Coordination and approval of such
excusals should be accomplished well before a tsunami alert occurs.

3. With regard to school children, employees
should be aware that the Department of Education will:

a. Close public schools if a tsunami warning
is issued prior to a morning school bus pickup/parent drop-off.

b. Evacuate public schools in evacuation zones
if a tsunami warning is issued when school is in
session and keep all other public schools open.
The Department of Education will provide care and
supervision for all students until parents can safely pick them up.

Most private schools, day care centers, and care homes
follow these guidelines. However, parents should check
with the schools/centers in which their children are
enrolled to determine their actual policies and emergency plans.
TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED OUTSIDE OF NORMAL WORKING HOURS

A. All personnel who have been designated as
disaster-response workers for emergencies/disasters/
catastrophic events shall immediately respond to their assigned elements.

B. Should emergency conditions dictate, all
employees must be prepared to perform civil defense duty when called upon.