Following the 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile on February 27th, 2010, the 14th U.S. Coast Guard District used the PIER System to distribute public information about tsunami warnings for the Hawaiian islands.

Using PIER, the Coast Guard managed public relations and distributed press releases informing the public and media that preparations were underway to support the islands post-tsunami. They also distributed information encouraging maritime communities to heed all warnings and advisories to ensure their safety.

After the tsunami watch, the Coast Guard released information about their efforts to assess damages, re-open Hawaii's main waterways and ports, and resume vessel traffic.

These news releases kept the public and media informed of the USCG's emergency response efforts and reassured people of their preparedness. The PIER System provided the USCG with the tools needed to distribute information efficiently during this potential disaster.

Visit www.uscghawaii.com for more information.