What to do during a tsunami?

The current Tsunami advisory is for a very minor tsunami of 1 to 2 feet possible in a few hours on the Oregon Coast. This is a good time for us to discuss Tsunamis and what to do.

The tsunami warning for Oregon today has prompted questions about "what do I do?" or "what should I not do?" Since earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean can cause tsunamis that can reach our coast, these questions are important to have answered ahead of an event.

FEMA's What to do before and during a tsunami page tells us exactly what we should do during a possible tsunami event:

1. Turn your radio on to listen for tsunami warnings and cancellations.

2. Move inland and to higher ground and stay there. The only way to avoid a tsunami is to be on ground higher then the wave.

3. Stay away from the beach! Never go to the beach to watch the wave. If you are close enough to see the tsunami then you will be unable to escape from the wave.

4. Know the signs of a tsunami - if you can see the ocean and you can visibly watch the ocean recede (go away from the shore) then a large tsunami is coming and you need to get inland and to higher ground immediately.

One possibility for preparedness is to know where you can go in the event of a tsunami. Knowing the closest high ground can help you know exactly where to go. With your emergency kit you can wait on high ground until the event has passed.

Most tsunamis are small and we usually do not notice them. But large tsunamis can damage property and kill. If you are prepared and know what to do then you can ensure you and your family's safety.

NOAA also has a Tsunami Preparedness Page with links to more information.

8.0 Earthquake in South Pacific triggers tsunami warning for Oregon

According to the USGS web site, at 7am this morning an 8.0 Earthquake struck 125 miles south the Samoan Islands has triggered a tsunami warning for Oregon. Two secondary quakes of 5.6 followed the initial earthquake.

According to the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Watch, the coastal regions of the Pacific were issued a tsunami warning. Oregon may see a tsunami of 15-25 cm (approximately 6-10 inches).

We will continue to monitor and update as we receive more information.

The Ready Campaign

Just a friendly reminder that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will deliver a major speech on national preparedness TODAY, Tuesday, September 29, 2pm EST. That's 11 our time.

Even better, the speech will be streamed live at www.DHS.Gov.

Secretary Napolitano will thank all of our Citizen Corps volunteers, our Ready Campaign, our national partners, and the thousands of others in the National Preparedness Month Coalition for all their hard work. She’ll also challenge our country to see preparedness as a shared responsibility, and urge Americans to build a year-round culture of readiness and resilience in our communities.

If you can’t watch live, the speech and additional resources will be posted at www.Ready.Gov later in the day. This is a great chance for us to build on our momentum and all the hard work we all put in this month. And so I urge you to watch today at 2pm EST, and to forward this e-mail to all of your friends and family.
Thank you again for all of your great work, and let’s keep it going throughout the year!

Sincerely,
The Ready Campaign