The National Weather Service has declared Hawaii the first state in the nation to be tsunami- and storm-ready.
Only 23 communities in the nation are tsunami-ready, according to David L. Johnson, director of the service.
Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said the state has taken several steps to be better prepared for the next tsunami, including having an emergency operations center in every county, a statewide siren system, evacuation maps in phone books, regular drills and public education programs.
To achieve the tsunami- and storm-ready status, the National Weather Service says a community must:
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