The modest exterior of the National Tsunami Warning Center gives little hint to the critically important international work that goes on inside 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Scientists here monitor the world's oceans for seismic activity that could trigger a tsunami watch or warning.

Decisions made in minutes can mean the difference between lives saved or lost.

But if this were a larger event, you could see where 7.5 hours in.

Acting scientist and operations officer Kara Sterling says when an alarm goes off An Earthquake is located in the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand.

The scientists start reviewing seismic data to look for activity that indicates an earthquake.

And then we're doing some analysis over in this screen.

She gives the example of a 6.3 earthquake that happened in the Aleutians earlier in the day.

and we start analyzing the data.

Seeing if, you know, it's a real event.

Where is it located?

How large is it?

And a lot of that is, really the criteria that we need to take that next step is, do we need to issue something?

Is this an event of concern for our area of responsibility?

The Tsunami Warning Center monitors and is responsible for issuing warnings for the continental United States, Alaska and Canada.

And they employ an international system in order to do that.

Warning Center physical scientist Michael Burgy says, because they monitor earthquakes worldwide.

They take different action depending on the location.

For example, south of Alaska, people may want information on a magnitude four earthquake.

But in the Aleutian Islands, a four is a yawner.

Tsunamis can travel across an entire ocean, so a warning center staff need to monitor events around the world.

We have to diligently respond to these events, whether they're small or medium or we haven't seen anything for weeks, we will still need to approach all of these ones as if it's something that some of these in the life may depend on.

So it's something that we respond to, with seriousness and, well, with speed.

Large earthquakes were the only focus in the past, but acting director of the center Summer Olan Dorf says new satellite technology, in addition to tide gauges, helps scientists see more of the tsunami wave field and other possible tsunami generators.

What we're trying to do right now is really plan for generalizing the tsunami warning system so that we're more equipped to handle any volcano, any landslide, and make sure we build that into our future systems and we're able to detect and characterize those hazards quickly.

She says the center coordinates and shares information with other science and government partners like the U.S. Geological Survey USGS.

To monitor landslide risk and volcanoes that are capable of producing tsunamis, and ensuring they have the instruments in place to monitor terrain.

there's kind of, a dance that we need to do between being aware of what's possible and then being aware of things as they're happening, because we can't possibly account for all potential hazards in situations.

Increasing temperatures and precipitation in Alaska has elevated landslide risk, with the potential to trigger a tsunami.

Southeast communities have experienced four deadly landslides since 2015, and Burgy says the Barry Arm area in Prince William Sound is being closely watched because of the threat of a large slide triggering a tsunami that could hit Whittier.

We have a very quick response time to beat what could be a very surprising wave arriving onshore.

It'd be a probably an impressive seismic signal that would show up on several stations.

Although the threat of a tsunami is always present, context about the risk and calm preparation is key.

Burgy stresses the importance of paying attention to the notices.

It's really important that people don't wonder, well, what should we do with this tsunami warning?

Because they need to take our word for it.

They need to drop what they're doing and they need to go now.

Go now.

The key takeaway from the center's center's communication strategy.

If you hear a tsunami siren or get an alert minutes count, get to high ground.

Be safe.

In Palmer, I'm Lori Townsend.