Before we return you to regular programming:

I'm pleased to distribute the following set of interviews via my podcast on behalf of The Regional Alliances for Infrastructure and Network Security (RAINS). If you are a resident of the West Coast of the U.S. (from San Diego to Seattle), I encourage you to freely copy and re-distribute this audio and the press release through your own podcast, blog, or web site.

New real-time tsunami warning service launched on the Pacific Coast.
Oregon's Connect & Protect Service Delivers NOAA/National Weather Service Alerts and Emergency Information to Coastal Residents' PCs and Cell Phones

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0:00 Ben Berry, RAINS-Introduction
0:22 Fred Granum, RAINS-Summary of the announcement
3:48 Ken Murphy, Oregon Office of Emergency Management-talking about importance to the State and why the State supports the RAINS Connect & Protect program
8:07 Gene Strong, Emergency Services Coordinator, Clatsop County, OR
12:41 Lynn Smith, Communications Manager, Seaside OR Police Dept.
18:23 Chad Sweet, General Manager, Surfsand Resort, Cannon Beach, OR
21:45 Doug Dougherty, Superintendent of Schools, Oregon School District 10-Seaside, Gearhart, Cannon Beach

Key quotes:

"Citizens along the Pacific Coast take the tsunami threat seriously, and so does RAINS," said Charles Jennings, RAINS Founder and Chairman. "What RAINS has done is extend distribution of critical information beyond first responders directly to others responsible for public safety, eliminating by as much as 30 minutes the phone-tree chain of communication. This is significant, particularly if you're on the beach and get an alarm on your cell phone that a tsunami will be hitting in minutes. This service will save lives."

"We do have tsunami risk here in Southern California," said Jack Wayt, Chief of Police of El Segundo, Calif "A large Cascadia Subduction event in the Northwest would affect us, but we've got our own hazards as well. Southern California has strike-slip faults offshore. Where they bend, they push the seafloor up, or they can drop the seafloor. Either scenario could produce a tsunami. We're very interested in Connect & Protect as a way to broaden protection for people and property."

The full press release can be found at rainsnet.org.