(interesting email I received by someone who deals in this field of science....
I am totally astounded by this event, not only the enormity of it, but that much of it could have been averted by a simple agreed-to warning system utilising television, radio and local authorities. There was as much as four hours elasped time before the wave struck Somolia.
Of course the usual detractors (of whom I am tired and disgusted with) will say that those in close proximity would not have a chance, which is true, but what about those beaches where the water withdrew for quite a number of minutes (as much as 15) prior to the onrush of the tsunami wave where pedestrians strode about on the exposed sands? Here simple education programs could have saved lives. The withdrawal of the water should have alerted those knowledgeable who could have sounded the alarm. Most who were drowned, swept away, or killed were not on the beaches, but one or two blocks away -- unwarned, unaware. They could have walked or ran away to a safer place.
Just simple knowledge of the warning signs could have saved many. People in the midwest of the United States don't have to be warned what to do when they see a tornado twister.
In the US, the west coast, British Columbia (Canada), Alaskan Pacific costal area has an alarm system in place which didn't occur until, I believe the '70's after a tsunami had killed some <100 people (I'm relying on memory here). It is manned by six people, 24/7/365.
http://wcatwc.gov/frequently.htm . This is in addition to a sophisticated international system which covers the entire Pacific area, including Hawaii, North, Central and South America.
On the East coast of the US and Canada there is no warning system. The costal regions of Virginia and North Carolina where the continental shelf drops off precipitously has 'cracks' foreboding of eventual slides which will be sufficient to create a tsunami of significant proportions. One expert was queried, what if? He replied, "it's not a question of 'if', but a question of 'when' ". What are we doing about it? Nothing, except right now talking. Most of us laypersons weren't even aware of it until this latest event.
Teide volcano, the third largest volcano in the world is located on Tenerife in the Canary Islands off of the western coast of North Africa, which could precipitate a tsunami affecting the East Coast. The authorities have been aware of it for years, and years, and years... and...
However, ....these things cost money, but, don't worry about it ....'cause we'll forget about it after a couple of years. We Americans, especially current ones, appear to be great at that.