For the second time in just a few months, coastal New Zealand, including the South Canterbury coastal belt, has been placed on high alert about the possibility of a tsunami. The Timaru Herald, An awareness that our authorities are taking warnings seriously might be just what it needs for the ordinary man, woman and child in the street to adopt the same approach. The Press, there was much better communication, for which Civil Defence authorities and the news media organisations concerned can take credit. NZ Herald, Civil Defence has done better this time. It is to the credit of Civil Defence's communications effort, and the radio stations that gave their morning programming over to the tsunami warning. Striking a balance between acting upon legitimate safety concerns, and unduly alarming people, needlessly disrupting their lives, is a delicate business, But it was achieved with success on this occasion ODT. The threat of natural disaster will always be accompanied by confusion and uncertainty wrote the The Nelson Mail. Little can be done to protect those who wilfully ignore the warnings and head to the coast to watch a spectacle. But there is room to do better at ensuring those who simply want some clear, reliable and accessible advice, about what to do and where they shouldn't go, know they are getting just that.