Civil Air Patrol Trains for a Tsunami

Maj Karin Hollerbach and Capt George Zioulas preflight the Highbird Aircraft. Photo by C/2d Lt Acevedo

Major Karin Hollerbach and Captain George Zioulas preflight the Highbird Aircraft. [Photo by C/2d Lt Acevedo]

Information from the California Water Resource Control Board:

At 11:00 AM, Wednesday, March 24, 2021 the National Weather Service activated a test of the Civil Air Patrol airborne public address system (APAS) as part of their Tsunami Warning Communications Test. The Civil Air Patrol launched three aircraft over Northern California and our distinctive Red, White, and Blue aircraft provided the broadcasted message to the Northern California Coast of “this is a test of the Civil Air Patrol public address system”.

Civil Air Patrol dispatched aircraft and crews from Concord and Santa Rosa to fly the Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties coastline with the aerial messaging system. A third aircraft launched from Livermore to act as a command and control platform for radio relays between the two broadcasting aircraft and the virtual mission base.

The purpose of this test was to educate residents and visitors along the coast to one of the many ways they may receive warning of an impending tsunami.

According to Mr. Ryan Aylward of the National Weather Service “A tsunami could occur along the California coast caused by a large earthquake anywhere in the Pacific Ocean. A tsunami originating from Japan would give approximately 11 hours of advance warning or four hours from Alaska. For distant source events like these the Civil Air Patrol can be an excellent asset to warn the public. However an earthquake just off the California coast would provide only minutes of warning before the first wave arrives.”

Lt Col Joseph Fernandes demonstrates the APAS system during training for the Tsunami Warning Exercise.

Lt Col Joseph Fernandes demonstrates the APAS system during training for the Tsunami Warning Exercise.

The APAS was designed to provide messages to warn the public who might not otherwise receive emergency alerts. In addition to the airborne system, counties and the National Weather Service utilized the Emergency Alert System, telephone notification systems, a network of coastal sirens, law-enforcement and other emergency services personnel to notify residents to get away from the coast towards higher ground.

Aircrews from NorCal Group 5 and San Francisco Bay Group 2 diligently trained on the APAS for two weekends prior to the exercise on March 24. Three training sessions were held and members were instructed on the ground and in the air on how to setup the APAS and conduct a sortie.

Capt Luis Rivas preflights the APAS Speakers. Photo by Lt Col Luneau

Capt Luis Rivas preflights the APAS Speakers. [Photo by Lt Col Luneau]

Civil Air Patrol Major Jeffrey Ironfield, the incident commander trainee stated that it is important to exercise this system regularly so both the crews and the public react quickly and appropriately when the emergency occurs.

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A. Realist
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A. Realist
2 years ago

So the plane flew but half the sirens didn’t work? Great coordination. When the tsunami hits and wipes all the hippies in Manila off the face off the Earth (no big loss) at least some retired guys in planes will see it from above. Keep up the great work. LOL

Martin
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Martin
2 years ago

I am glad to see the Civil Air Patrol keeping their training up to date by flying and using the APAS speakers. At least we will know their system is up and running. As for about half the sirens not working in the last test tells me that the operator(s) on the ground system need to perform regular work on each siren. Failure in time of need is not an option!