The extensive loss of human lives and building damage sustained during past tsunamis drove development of the first tsunami risk assessment in Israel. Although past tsunamis have occurred along the eastern Mediterranean coasts, no data is available for empirical hazard and risk analysis. Thus, our assessment focused on a simulated tsunami generated by an Mw 8.2 earthquake along the eastern Cypriot Arc (about 200 km NW of Haifa) in Bat Galim, the most vulnerable neighborhood in the city of Haifa, situated along the Mediterranean coast in northern Israel. This tsunami event represents the worst-case scenario threatening Bat Galim. Exposure data were taken from the National Archives of the Survey of Israel and was verified with a field survey. Two approaches were taken to derive the most appropriate vulnerability models for the study: first, already published Damage Criteria (DC) were developed based on information from past tsunami events around the world; second, damage functions were applied using the Hazus Tsunami Model (HTM), a multi-parameter loss estimation tool built using detailed engineering knowledge. Risk was considered the product of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability.

Following several parametric studies and sensitivity tests, we produced loss assessment results from the two most realistic model outcomes and arrived at conclusions meaningful for tsunami preparedness in northern Israel. Most importantly, we note that the loss of life far surpasses building damage. Increasing community preparedness is the simplest and most cost-effective way to significantly reduce the risk of casualties during a tsunami. We also note that upgrading the seismic design of existing structures according to required standards in Israel will decrease vulnerability to tsunamis and expand possibilities for vertical evacuation.

We discuss the accuracy and reliability of our analysis and demonstrate that a simple DC approach is useful for preliminary investigation in cases of limited data. The HTM however, requires detailed preparation and data inputs but produces more realistic loss estimates. These insights may aid others during future implementation of tsunami loss modeling in threatened coastal communities.

在过去的海啸中，广泛的人员伤亡和建筑破坏，推动了以色列首次海啸风险评估的发展。尽管过去的海啸发生在地中海东部沿海地区，但尚无可用于经验性危害和风险分析的数据。因此，我们的评估重点是在以色列北部地中海沿岸的海法市最脆弱的地区巴特加里姆岛的东塞浦路斯弧（海法西北约200公里）发生的8.2级Mw地震引发的模拟海啸。 。这次海啸事件代表了威胁Bat Galim的最坏情况。暴露数据取自以色列国家调查的国家档案馆，并通过现场调查进行了验证。采取了两种方法来得出最适合该研究的漏洞模型：第一种，根据世界各地过去海啸事件的信息，制定了已经发布的损害标准（DC）；其次，使用Hazus海啸模型（HTM）应用损伤函数，该模型是使用详细的工程知识构建的多参数损失估算工具。风险被认为是危害，暴露和脆弱性的产物。

经过几项参数研究和敏感性测试，我们从两个最现实的模型结果中得出了损失评估结果，并得出了对以色列北部海啸防范有意义的结论。最重要的是，我们注意到生命的损失远远超过了建​​筑物的破坏。增加社区的准备工作是最大程度地降低海啸期间人员伤亡风险的最简单，最具成本效益的方法。我们还注意到，按照以色列要求的标准升级现有结构的抗震设计，将减少对海啸的脆弱性，并扩大垂直疏散的可能性。

我们讨论了分析的准确性和可靠性，并证明了在数据有限的情况下，简单的DC方法可用于初步调查。但是，HTM需要详细的准备工作和数据输入，但是会产生更实际的损失估计。这些见解可能会在受威胁的沿海社区中进一步实施海啸损失建模期间为他人提供帮助。