Tsunami Threat & Tips

The recent 8.9 earthquake near the coast of Honshu Japan (231 miles NE of Tokyo) on Friday, March 11th, 2011 at 02:46 PM at epicenter, according to officials was the largest recorded earthquake in that country. This earthquake also generated a significant tsunami that struck Japan. The Los Angeles Fire Department along with our friends at FEMA provide the following guidelines for what you should do if a tsunami is likely in your area:

•Turn on your radio to learn if there is a tsunami warning if an earthquake occurs and you are in a coastal area.

•Move inland to higher ground immediately and stay there.

•Stay away from the beach. Never go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in. If you can see the wave you are too close to escape it.

•CAUTION - If there is noticeable recession in water away from the shoreline this is nature's tsunami warning and it should be heeded. You should move away immediately

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Whats the difference between a Warning, Watch and Advisory?:

A Tsunami Warning indicates:

The highest level of a Tsunami alert and is an announcement provided by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) to a local jurisdiction within an expected impact area after a tsunami triggering event has occurred or when a tsunami has been detected anywhere in the Pacific Basin.

A Tsunami Watch indicates:

The second highest level of a tsunami alert and is an announcement provided by the WC/ATWC to a local jurisdiction outside of the warning area after a tsunami triggering event has occurred in the Pacific Basin and may have caused a tsunami.

A Tsunami Advisory indicates:

That an area is either outside the current warning and warning regions, or that the tsunami possesses no danger to that area.  The WC/ATWC will continue to monitor and issues updates.  As condition warrant, the Advisory will either be continued, upgraded to a watch or warning, or ended.

What is a Tsunami? Also commonly referred to as a "Tidal Wave", a Tsunami is caused by the displacement of a large body of water that can travel the speed of a Jumbo Jet. They are often arrive as a series of waves which could be dangerous for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

If a tsunami was generated when would it impact us? The initial wave arrival would begin within 30 minutes of the estimated arrival time of 8:09 AM PST at the Port San Luis Harbor and at 8:32 AM PST at the San Pedro Harbor in Los Angeles.

Although rare, tsunamis are a powerful and destructive force of nature. Since the year 1812, 14 tsunamis with wave heights higher than three feet have struck the California coast. Only six of these waves were destructive.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is acutely aware of this threat and we are prepared. The LAFD will maintain a heightened alert and a keen eye, particularly on the areas of The Port of Los Angeles, the Venice/Playa Del Rey area and the West Los Angeles area. We currently have Command Posts at Fire Station 5, Fire Station 48 (Korean Bell) and Fire Station 69. Firefighters will be patrolling strategic areas from the ground, air and sea to monitor the situation. One Public Information Officer will be available at each command post.

Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman

Los Angeles Fire Department