SOUTHERN OREGON COAST TSUNAMI MAPS & INFORMATION

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In Japanese this word means “harbor wave”. It is a series of waves caused by underwater earthquakes, land slides, or volcanoes. These waves travel at speeds up to 600 miles per hour in the open sea. When the tsunami nears land it slows to less than 40 miles per hour. Areas less than 50 feet above sea level, within a mile of the coast, may be impacted by a tsunami of a distant origin. Areas with a local tsunami event can experience waves of up to 100 feet in extreme circumstances.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A DISTANT TSUNAMI EVENT:

• No local effects of the earthquake, volcano, or landslide which may have caused the tsunami.

• Watch or Warning in effect of a possible impending tsunami through your local radio or    television stations.

• Evacuation of the coastal tsunami inundation zone areas by officials. 

• County and or state highways closed in the tsunami inundation zone.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A LOCAL TSUNAMI EVENT:

• Local effects of the earthquake, volcano, or landslide which may have caused the tsunami with ground shaking and property damage.

• No Watch or Warning of a possible impending tsunami through your local radio or television stations due to lack of time. Your response time may only be 10 minutes to get to higher ground and out of the tsunami inundation zone.

• No evacuation of the coastal tsunami inundation zone areas by officials due to lack of response time.

• No emergency response available for at least 72 hours depending on the extent of the damage.

• A tsunami is a series of waves; never go back into an area until you have received an “all clear” from local officials.

• YOU CANNOT OUTRUN A TSUNAMI!

• If you are at the beach and witness the ocean tide below a normal tide level, leave for higher ground immediately.

• Be aware of the tsunami signage posted in your local coastal area to respond accordingly.

• If you feel that you are in an earthquake and are in a tsunami inundation zone or at the beach, it will be your only warning to evacuate to high ground. 

   DON’T WAIT FOR THE WARNING FROM OFFICIALS.

• If you are in a safe area out of the tsunami inundations zone and hear a tsunami watch or warning, DO NOT GO TO THE BEACH!