Final answer:
The statement is true; tsunami-warning centers operate in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans to provide advance warnings of tsunamis generated by seismic activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true; tsunami-warning centers are operational in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, providing advance warning to coastal areas of potential tsunami threats. These centers monitor seismic activity, which can lead to the generation of a tsunami, typically caused by underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions. Through a network of buoys and seismic data, they are able to detect sudden changes in oceanic conditions that may indicate a tsunami is forming and can transmit warnings to coastal regions, with the aim of evacuating areas and minimizing loss of life and property damage. The existence of such warning systems became a critical aspect of disaster management following events like the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, which caused large-scale loss of life partly because there was no early-warning system in place for tsunamis in the Indian Ocean at the time.