Tsunami information and inundation maps

The county of Kauai maintains good information about tsunami preparedness which is an important thing for residents to know especially if they live near the ocean. Typically visitors want to stay as close to the ocean as possible though this is the highest risk area so it is important for visitors to also know what to do and where to go in case of a tsunami warning. In Poipu there is a siren at Poipu crater. If you hear this you should get to the local shelter which is at the Koloa elementary school on Poipu road.

I also noticed that the county has an interactive map that will show the tsunami inundation zones. These are the areas where it is likely that a large tsunami will flood. I was happy to see that Poipu Sands and in particular Poipu Sands 124 is very safe from a tsunami. This is not so for a number of other resorts which lie lower in elevation relative to sea level.

Although the risk of a tsunami is so low that I personally would not be too worried where I stay, it is interesting to look at the map and wonder about the condos so close to the ocean.