Hawaii recognized as first state to be tsunami and storm ready

The National Weather Service has declared Hawaii the first state in the nation to be tsunami- and storm-ready.

Only 23 communities in the nation are tsunami-ready, according to David L. Johnson, director of the service.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said the state has taken several steps to be better prepared for the next tsunami, including having an emergency operations center in every county, a statewide siren system, evacuation maps in phone books, regular drills and public education programs.

To achieve the tsunami- and storm-ready status, the National Weather Service says a community must:

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.