Tsunami raises global questions over disaster preparedness.

Okay Aussies (for those that dont know) here it is...the rule of 3's...this is the guide to stay alive (hopefully) in a tsunami where you have had warning...and you should set that in place a LONG time beforehand!...

For every metre of reported wave height you need to move to a height 3 x that above sea level...

E.G If a wave is reported at 10 meters height (think the Japan experience here) you need to be at 30m above sea level...

This is NOT always guaranteed BUT statistically a safe zone...HGHER IS BETTER!

Heights of greater meterage will further negate land run-up i.e elevation change (which in WA is bugger-all!), speed of wave e.g. it can vary between 200km/h and 700km/h+ and (possible) land mass erosion from multiple hits (which will occur; think sandhills or mudflats, the first wave will flatten them, the second is coming further in) and (possible) water features (read large lakes, sea inlets etc here) which will only add to the wave volume...

So if a land shift occurs in the Indian Ocean and a 100m wave (last occurred in Alaska in the 50's) is travelling towards WA at 500-600km/h (about normal for tsunami) the occupants of Perth (in fact the entire coastal plain) should look at an elevation of at least 300m...from where I am that'd take me 40 minutes of clear driving...makes ya think...