Knowing which regions are at risk of a tsunami is critical for public safety, emergency management, and long-term coastal planning. OR&R recently integrated new tsunami inundation water-depth data into Arctic ERMA® to help Arctic communities prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the effects of these destructive waves. Source data, representing the maximum water depth on dry land based on worst-case scenarios, was initially provided by the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Services for individual communities; however, OR&R collaborated with the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Response Research Center to compile it into statewide datasets for easier regional assessment. The primary goal of this integration is to facilitate preparedness by identifying critical infrastructure, fuel and chemical storage facilities, and environmentally-sensitive areas, and sites for scientific fieldwork that may be within the tsunami hazard zone. It is important to note that not all communities have been surveyed for tsunami hazards, and very few unpopulated areas have been assessed. New and higher-resolution data are available via the Alaska Tsunami Inundation Mapping portal and the Alaska Earthquake Center Tsunami Hazard Tool as they become available.

Regional coordinators of OR&R’s Disaster Preparedness Program (DPP) participated in the 2025 Large Atlantic Tsunami Exercise (LANTEX) Tsunami Exercise to evaluate internal communications during a simulated 6.8-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami threat to the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and Canada. Led by the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), the exercise improved participants’ understanding of local tsunami hazard and inundation mapping, maritime risks during tsunami events, and NTWC alerts, timelines, and Impact Decision Support Services (including bulletins, conference calls, and Slack). The exercise confirmed that strong internal DPP communication procedures are vital for effectively supporting the National Ocean Service Incident Management Team and impacted staff during an actual tsunami event, underscoring the necessity of maintaining consistent communication and coordination with the NTWC.

Since 2024, OR&R has partnered with SAFE-Arctic, a resilience-building project that develops frameworks and tools to enhance the Arctic region's resilience against environmental challenges, industrial expansion, and geopolitical threats. Two OR&R scientists are currently preparing for a spring 2026 tabletop exercise in the Nome, Alaska region. Following preparatory workshops in Nome and Anchorage, Alaska in November 2025, the scientists will participate in the drill, which is led by the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Response Research Center and funded by the Department of Homeland Security and the University of Alaska, Arctic Domain Awareness Center (a DHS Center of Excellence). This work supports OR&R’s ongoing efforts to improve regional resilience, enhance Arctic ERMA® with locally identified datasets, and develop visual narratives of logistical and culturally significant areas.