. Santa Cruz has a population of about 50,000. Tsunamis have the ability to kill thousands of people in matter of minutes.Due to the unpredictability of earthquakes, Tsunamis are difficult to forecast. However, the county of San Mateo has gone to great lengths in the planning of how to respond to a Tsunami. The common problem that areas such as these encounter is how often the government believes that these events happen. It is believed that this event can only happen once every one hundred years, and therefore does not need much prevention planning. Since asking the entire West Coast to migrate east is not a probable solution, those who live in coastal areas must be well educated about this event. New housing developments now must follow certain regulations that limit how close housing can be built next to the coastline. Three years ago the government set aside two point three million dollars to help fund Tsunami preparedness. Buoys placed out in the ocean can help measure a Tsunami as it passes. The more scientists know about an approaching Tsunami, the more accurately the public can be informed. False alarms can be costly when it comes to evacuating measures. Inundation maps have been created to help aid the evacuation process. Those who live in coastal areas are required to have flood insurance. Tsunamis and the destructive force that lies with them are inevitable. The best thing we can do is plan effectively and be ready for the impossible. Those who live areas such as Santa Cruz know what risks are at stake. As long as people continue to inhabit areas that are prone to natural disasters, we will always be searching for ways to prepare for the worst....
