Specialists of the National Commission of Emergencies and of the National University have published a new online map detailing evacuation routes to be used in the event of a tsunami.

The map shows 34 coastal communities and the evacuation routes people need to take to get to safe places. The map also includes information on flood zones, meeting points, and the safest evacuation routes.

According to Silvia Chacón, map designer and specialist from the National University, “the project is the product of 4 years of work, which began with computer simulations of more than 40 tsunamis from the entire Pacific Coast."

Alexander Solis, president of the Commission of Emergencies, said "the map is an instrument of great value for hotels, tourists and the general public which lives in the coastal areas."

However, the effectiveness of the map requires active community organizations and the transmission of tsunami alerts between communities.  

Choosing the 34 communities that are in the greatest danger required a study that included factors such as population, tourist visitation, and the road network condition. Another variable analyzed was the existing vulnerability due to development constructions near the coasts, such as hospitals, educational centers, hospitals, and residential.  A risk index was defined from these factors and the communities chosen.

The Commission provided training workshops with the community leaders giving them a lecture on tsunamis in general and how tsunamis would affect the local coasts.