The Seldovia Village Tribe this month received a TsunamiReady certificate from the National Weather Service. They are the first federally recognized Alaska Native tribe to achieve the certification, according to a July 9 press release from the tribe.

According to the TsunamiReady website administered by NOAA, the program is a “voluntary community recognition program that promotes tsunami hazard preparedness as an active collaboration among federal, state/territorial and local emergency management agencies, community leaders and the public.”

The main goal of the program is to improve public safety before, during and after tsunami emergencies, according to NOAA.

In order to achieve the certificate, the tribe had to demonstrate what they did for tsunami preparation.

Mark Ball, tribal emergency manager, said this involved several sections of mitigation, including having an approved FEMA hazard mitigation plan, tsunami inundation maps and posted signage.

It also involved community preparedness events such as brochures, presentations, public safety campaigns.

The tribe also had to create emergency action plans that includes interaction with local, state and federal agencies.

For additional follow-up, the tribe needs to make sure their plans are updated and hold additional community outreach and educational events and exercises, Ball said.

Aviva Braun, NWS Anchorage warning coordination meteorologist, traveled to Seldovia to present the certification to the tribe.

The City of Seldovia also received a certificate in October of 2023, according to Elizabeth Diament, Seldovia city clerk. Their are 14 other communities in the state with the certification including Homer, Seward and Whittier on the Kenai Peninsula. More information on the federal program and what it entails is available on the National Weather Service website at www.weather.gov/tsunamiready.