Strengthening tsunami preparedness and resilience in Costa Rica

Tsunami preparedness in Costa Rica has been for more than 10 years in the making, a moment to revisit the important achievements fostered by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.

Historic background

Costa Rica has experienced at least 45 tsunamis since 1746 at both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Although only three tsunami-related deaths were recorded, the potential for deaths has increased significantly over the last two decades due to the growth of tourism along Costa Rican beaches.

Before 2014, there was no formal arrangement for tsunami warning and preparedness in the country. In that year, a national tsunami monitoring system (Sistema Nacional de Monitoreo de Tsunamis - SINAMOT) was established as part of a Tsunami Research and Outreach Programme at the National University Costa Rica, and endorsed as National Tsunami Warning Centre (NTWC) by the Costa Rican Government. SINAMOT became part of the National Risk Management System (SNGR) which includes technical institutions, emergency response agencies, and others, and it is led by the National Commission on Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias - CNE).

In the following years, SINAMOT engaged closely with regional and global tsunami warning and mitigation structures. For instance, its staff served in Intergovernmental Coordination Groups for Tsunami Warning and Mitigation in the Pacific and the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, the Ocean Decade Advisory Board, and the Scientific Committee of the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme.

SINAMOT and CNE have entered agreements to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for tsunami warning, to maintain the tide gauge network, to develop tsunami hazard assessments and evacuation maps, and to support coastal communities in tsunami preparedness.

Costa Rica, within the IOC Tsunami Resilience Section, participates in two Intergovernmental Coordination Groups and receives guidance from two Tsunami Information Centres, one for the Pacific Ocean and one for the Caribbean Region.

The IOC's commitment to tsunami preparedness dates back to 1977, when Resolution X-23 established its mandate to support countries in this area. That mandate grew steadily more operational: first with the establishment of regional early warning systems and intergovernmental groups in 2004, and later with the launch of the Tsunami Ready Programme in 2015, which was formally recognized in 2022.

Key milestones

• 2014: Creation of SINAMOT, and commence supporting the two tide gauges existing in Costa Rica, owned by the University of Hawaii Sea Level Centre (UHSLC).
• 2015: SINAMOT endorsed as National Tsunami Warning Centre by the Costa Rican Government.
• 2016: First version of Tsunami Hazard Assessment for the Pacific coast.
• 2016: First tsunami evacuation maps developed.
• 2017: First community along the Pacific coast recognized as Tsunami Ready by the IOC.
• 2018: Deployment of a tide gauge in Cocos Island (approx. 500 km southwest of continental Costa Rica), as a joint effort of SINAMOT, CNE, NOAA and UHSLC.
• 2019: First National Evacuation Drill on Earthquakes and Tsunamis; there-after performed annually
• 2020: First version of Tsunami Hazard Assessment for the Caribbean coast
• 2021-2022: TSU-MAB Project: Joint Initiative for Tsunami and Inundation Preparedness in Coastal Biosphere Reserves - a collaboration between IOC, SINAMOT, and CNE.
• 2022: Publication of the first Catalogue of Tsunamis in Costa Rica.
• 2024: First community along the Caribbean coast recognized as Tsunami Ready by the IOC. There are now eleven Tsunami Ready communities in the country.
• 2025: Deployment of four new tide gauges donated by the European Commission, bringing the stations contributing to tsunami monitoring to a total of seven.

Key achievements

• Eleven communities recognized as Tsunami Ready by the IOC.
• Capacity building on tsunamis and tsunami preparedness activities conducted in 72 coastal communities.
• Tsunami evacuation maps developed for 66 coastal communities.
• Tsunami evacuation signage installed in 41 coastal communities.
• Tsunami sirens installed in five coastal communities.
• Tsunami exercises conducted in 22 coastal communities.
• Publishing and updating a catalogue of historical tsunamis.
• Seven sea level stations were established, contributing to tsunami monitoring.
• More than 700 potentially tsunamigenic events assessed in real time for Costa Rica

Key lessons

• Inclusive approach: Inter-institutional and international cooperation are necessary to ensure the effective functioning of tsunami early warning systems at national, regional and global levels. Active participation in regional and global tsunami warning and mitigation structures contributed significantly to the advances on tsunami preparedness and resilience in Costa Rica.
• Targeted focus: The requirement to continuously update tsunami evacuation maps and preparedness and response plans led to a larger focus on local governments (rather than individual communities) to increase reach.
• On-going commitment: Public awareness activities, exercises, capacity building and updating technology require on-going effort.
• Value of the IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme (TRRP): The TRRP is an excellent opportunity to motivate coastal communities, institutions, and authorities to increase their tsunami preparedness and resilience.
• Multi-hazard applicability: Communities and institutions have applied tsunami preparedness strategies and efforts to other hazards.
• Value of a National Risk Management System: The National Risk Management System facilitated rapid advances with regards to tsunami preparedness and resilience, as the existing structures for other hazards were adapted for tsunamis. This underscores the importance of interinstitutional collaborations in a multi-hazard early warning system. Discover the full effort and impact of the IOC Tsunami Ready Programme here.