Yes: while these natural disasters cannot be prevented, their results (such as loss of life and property) can be reduced by proper planning.
For that, however, one must have a good understanding not only of the physical nature of the phenomenon and its manifestation in each geographical locality but also of that area’s combined physical, social and cultural factors. Some of these areas are more vulnerable to tsunamis than others. Because tsunami frequency in the Pacific Ocean is high, most efforts in hazard management have concentrated in this area of the world. No matter how remote, the likelihood of a tsunami should be considered in developing coastal zone management and land use.
While some degree of risk is acceptable, government agencies should promote new development and population growth in areas of greater safety and less potential risk. These agencies should formulate land-use regulations for a given coastal area with the tsunami risk potential in mind, particularly if such an area is known to have sustained damage in the past. Also, destruction of natural vegetation such as mangroves which act as a natural barrier against tsunami should be avoided. High rise building in the high risk areas increases the damage risk.
Tsunami early warning systems detect potentially dangerous earthquakes and may provide immediate early warning to countries that might be hit. Coordination of these global warning systems has been undertaken by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC, http://www.ioc-tsunami.org) supported by its International Tsunami Information Centre. Building upon its experience in the Pacific, the IOC has also been helping to establish tsunami warning capabilities in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Atlantic and Mediterranean.