Exercise Narrative: PACIFEX26 – Strengthening Our Coastal Shield
Target Audience: Federal, Military, State, Provincial, and Local Emergency Managers; First Responders; Communications Officers; and Port/Harbor Authorities.
Exercise Date: May 5, 2026
Overview
As part of our ongoing commitment to coastal resilience, PACIFEX26 serves as the premier functional exercise for the Pacific regions of the United States and Canada. This exercise is designed to validate tsunami response plans, stress-test communication interoperability, and refine the transition from “Warning” to “Action” at every level of government.
The primary resource for this exercise is the PACIFEX26 Bulletin Booklet, which provides the simulated chronologies and technical data necessary to drive local drills.
The Scenario
PACIFEX26 simulates a high-impact tsunamigenic event—a scenario based on a hypothetical M8.8 earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which triggers a Tsunami Warning for the U.S. West Coast and British Columbia—generating a basin-wide threat. For emergency managers, this scenario provides the complexity required to test:
- Product Interpretation: Analyzing simulated bulletins from the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) to determine local impact.
- Communication Chains: Testing the “last mile” of notification from state/provincial warning points to local jurisdictions and the public.
- Decision Support: Evaluating the timelines for evacuation orders, harbor clearances, and the activation of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs).
Why Participate?
Tsunami response is a race against time. PACIFEX26 offers a low-risk, high-consequence environment to identify gaps in existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Professionals are encouraged to use the Bulletin Booklet to:
- Conduct Tabletop Exercises (TTX): Walk through the exercise timeline with key stakeholders to discuss resource allocation.
- Test Equipment: Ensure that EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, and local sirens/SMS systems are synchronized with the exercise tempo.
- Engage Community Partners: Use the exercise as a hook to coordinate with schools, hospitals, and maritime industries located in inundation zones.
Professional Objectives for PACIFEX26
- Interagency Coordination: Demonstrate the ability to share situational awareness between federal (NOAA/USGS/PSEPC), state/provincial, and local partners.
- Public Information: Practice the release of clear, consistent, and actionable messaging to minimize public confusion.
- Technical Readiness: Verify that duty officers and EOC staff can correctly navigate the Tsunami.gov products under the pressure of a simulated timeline.
Call to Action
Register your agency’s participation at TsunamiZone.org to ensure your efforts are counted and to access additional regional resources. Download the Exercise today to begin customizing your local injects and objectives.
Are you in the Zone? Let’s find out on May 5th.