I refer to “Warning system” ( FT5/1) where PS Lands and Mineral Resources Malakai Finau essentially offered excuses for the shortcomings in the early warning system. Might as well can the system if it is not going to work.

A 100 per cent availability for inter-agency/inter-regional communications should be a no-brainer in today’s world; with prioritised-traffic in the normal public digital network, VHF trunked radio systems for groups eg. fire, police, NDMO, the good old portable HF sets and finally the unbeatable satellite phones arranged in a tiered-system dependant upon availability.

At this point it may be instructive to ask the NDMO as to whether all the emergency channels are regularly tested, is the warning system to be an audio and text alert only and let the public sort themselves out?

Or will it be a more involved system; for example mandatory localised leaflet drops are made well beforehand with prioritised high grounds and routes there clearly marked to be followed in the event of a tsunami. Follow-up periodic public drill(s) to gauge response times and public acceptability should also be mandatory.

Yes, I know it costs money. What type and speed of link do we have to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and how is our database of the type of disturbances that generate life threatening tsunamis.

These are considerations that may help minimise the analysis times because not all disturbances generate those tsunami we all fear.

With the increasing uncertainty and frequency of these freak climatic conditions, now is probably the time for creative solutions to be fashioned and a reappraisal of these life-and-death procedures made. As the saying goes, prevention is better.