Opinion: Trump’s reckless decision to kill a tsunami warning system that could save California

To the editor: In 2004, more than 235,000 people were killed by a tsunami in the Indian Ocean. In 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan suffered a meltdown after being hit by a tsunami that was much larger than expected. (“Trump’s budget would kill a crucial piece of a global tsunami warning system, sparking alarm in California and beyond,” July 11)

Depending on the time of year, between 92,000 and 1 million Californians would be in harm’s way if a 9.1 earthquake struck off the Alaska coast. People in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington state and Alaska also would be at risk, not to mention what might happen to coastal nuclear power plants.

President Trump wants to save $12 million a year by eviscerating the well-functioning tsunami early warning system to focus on “national security.” That “savings” will pay for what, three trips to Mar-a-Lago in Florida?

Kevin Wilby, La Crescenta

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To the editor: What could be more of a “core government function” than saving American lives? I would say warning Americans of a potentially devastating tsunami is as much a function of national security as earthquake warnings.

Is this just more politics, or does the president not have a clue about the devastation that a tsunami can cause?

Judi Jones, San Pedro

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