Chris,
In place of a complaint, perhaps you need to mount an email campaign to let them know they have an obligation to give out accurate and timely information to those who can access the media. What to do immediatly and what to expect in the days to come. Aftershocks or in this case even a second tsunami.
Education before hand is being prepared. This is the place for more indeepth coverage. As a teacher I always felt unless we were in the middle of the event, people tuned you out. Maybe this time, the lesson will stick, at least for enough time to prepare more people. We on the west coast need to be reminded from time to time, this can happen.
Go for it, the few who will remember it will be thankful. One news report I heard was of a young girl who saved her family because she had seen a program on TV and knew the rapidy receeding tide was not right. She got them on high ground and the wave hit.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Bob in Woodland Hills