NOAA had computer generated models of the Tsunomi hours before it hit and sent out information bulletins with warnings.
Did the death toll need to be this high if there was forewarnings?
Do a search on FR for the very first thread of the Quake. I was told it took the online quake sites at least 15 minutes to get up on the internet after it happened and almost 2 hours before it hit the 24 news headlines.