Indian Ocean states showed today they were much better prepared to deal with the possibility of another killer tsunami following the earthquake off Indonesia yesterday.
In contrast to three months ago, when Asian nations were not even part of a tsunami warning network, the risk was immediately relayed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii and distributed across the region.
"We are happy with the alertness with which everyone woke up, all countries and all agencies," said Mihir Bhatt of India's Disaster Mitigation Institute in Ahmedabad.
Police, soldiers, monks, fishermen and ordinary residents of coastal areas across the Indian Ocean used megaphones, radio, telephones and temple bells to warn of the possibility of another tsunami following the 8.7 magnitude quake off Sumatra yesterday.
Waves of the magnitude that left nearly 300,000 people dead or missing on December 26th failed to materialise.
In Banda Aceh, hardest hit last year, panicked residents rushed into the streets after yesterday's quake.
Elsewhere across the Indian Ocean, beach-front roads in major resort areas - where tourist numbers are still well down on last year - were clogged with traffic as residents and holidaymakers jumped in any available transport to evacuate to higher ground.