EMBASSY SANTIAGO RECEIVES TSUNAMI AND EARTHQUAKE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000846

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TPHY AORC CI
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SANTIAGO RECEIVES TSUNAMI AND EARTHQUAKE
WARNINGS THROUGH OFDA SERVICE

REF: STATE 54475
1.QPost receives earthquake information and regional
threat information via emails sent to Mission Disaster
Relief Officer (MDRO) by the Office of Foreign Disaster
Assistance (OFDA) regional office in Costa Rica. In
response, Post reviews local news coverage to determine
whether a seismic event is of such magnitude to cause major
damage and/or trigger a national disaster response and, if
so, whether U.S. assistance is likely to be requested or
necessary in practical terms. In response to a major
earthquake or tsunami warning, Post would notify the
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) chair and contact Chile's
National Emergency Office (ONEMI) to determine whether it
had received similar notification and Chile's proposed
national response. Based on best available information, EAC
chair would determine whether to convoke the EAC and/or
invoke the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) procedures for
natural disaster.
2.QSantiago's EAP is available on SIPRNet at
http://source.ds.state.sgov.gov/products/offi ces/spc/eapmodi
fieddates.asp.

3.QPost considers OFDA's notification and response
system for the region to be an effective device for
tracking and early warning of seismic events. OFDA
monitors not only


seismic activity but other slow and rapid onset disasters
- volcano activity, drought, flooding, hurricane activity,
etc. OFDA has regional representatives in Argentina who
maintain contact with Post and could be on the ground in
Santiago as soon as three hours after a significant event.
After a recent earthquake and associated landslide-induced
flooding in southern Chile, OFDA contacted MDRO and
provided updates on the event -- in this case of limited
impact.


4. Prior to reftel, Post was unaware of the Department's
notification and early warning system, but would
appreciate being incorporated in future alerts. Through
June 25, MDRO is Econ Officer Michael Keller, email:
KellerMR@state.gov; KellerMR@state.sgov.gov; Phone: Office
(56-2)-330-3397, Cell (56-99)-158-4650, Home (56-2)-955-

0808. Effective June 25, Robin Dunnigan will assume duties
as Post MDRO and Michael Keller will become A/MDRO. MDRO
and Post Duty Officer can be contacted by phone, (56-99)-
159-8535, or through Post 1 (56)330-3321/3700, 24 hours a
day.
KELLY