Twenty years after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami devastated 14 countries and claimed 228,000 lives, the University of Hawaiʻi-managed Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has emerged as a global leader in disaster management and early warning technologies. The tragic event underscored critical gaps in global preparedness and catalyzed transformative changes—many of which were pioneered by PDC.
The tsunami, triggered by a colossal 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, sent towering waves racing across oceans, leaving destruction in their wake. As the world grappled with the staggering loss, questions arose: How could such a catastrophe occur, and why weren’t more lives saved?
PDC Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai Shirkhodai led the organization’s frontline response. Working around the clock, the applied science and technology center on Maui responded to requests from the humanitarian community and its regional contacts.
“We were processing tsunami warnings, modeling wave propagation times, and fielding requests for support from humanitarian agencies,” Shirkhodai said. PDC’s groundbreaking geospatial technologies and analytical tools became indispensable for coordinating relief efforts across multiple countries.
Spurring global action
PDC, a pioneer in multi-hazard early warning systems, leveraged its DisasterAWARE web-based platform (which includes a free publicly available app) to provide real-time hazard alerts and decision-making tools. Following the tsunami, PDC partnered with governments and organizations in Southeast Asia to integrate these technologies into national and regional disaster management frameworks. By 2006 PDC had integrated DisasterAWARE alerts into Thailandʻs custom system ThaiAWARE, complete with tsunami warning sirens.
The tsunami’s aftermath also spurred global action, including the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System and the 2005 Hyogo Framework for Action. PDC played a pivotal role in these initiatives, supporting early warning infrastructure and training disaster managers across the Southeast Asia region.
Despite advancements, significant challenges remain. A 2024 UN report revealed that only 38% of countries have comprehensive multi-hazard monitoring systems. PDC continues to innovate, incorporating artificial intelligence, satellite technology, and real-time risk analytics to bridge these gaps.
“The 2004 tsunami was a wake-up call for the world,” said Shirkhodai. “Our mission is to ensure no community is left unprepared.”
Today, PDC’s DisasterAWARE platform serves millions globally, empowering decision-makers and global citizens with the tools to save lives and build resilience.
For more on this story, go to the PDC.
—By Chani Goering, with contributions by Dheera Dusanapudi
