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How to

Survive

a Tsunami

www.calema.ca.gov

IF YOU FEEL A STRONG

EARTHQUAKE WHILE

NEAR THE COAST:

1. PROTECT yoursel during the earthquake

I indoors, DROP under a sturdy table or

object, COVER your head and neck and

HOLD ON.

I outdoors, move to a clear area i you can

saely do so - away rom trees, beach clis,

signs and other hazards - and drop* to the

ground.

* I you have mobility impairments that prevent

you rom getting up on your own, do not drop

to the ground but do cover your head and

neck and hold on.

2. MOVE to High Ground As soon as it is sae to

move, go to higher

ground. DO NOT WAIT

or an ocial tsunami

warning.

Avoid downed power lines and weakened

overpasses.

If you are outside of a tsunami hazard zone,

stay where you are.

3. STAY There

Remain on high ground.

Waves rom a tsunami

may arrive or eight

hours or longer.

Return to the coast only when ocials have

announced that it is sae to do so.

COVERDROP

This document was prepared under a grant rom FEMAsGrant Program Directorate, U.S. Department o Home-

land Security. Points o view or opinions expressed in thisdocument are those o the authors and do not necessarily rep-resent the ocial position or policies o FEMAs Grant Programs

Directorate or the U.S. Department o Homeland Security.

7_09

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

ABOUT TSUNAMIS

A tsunami is a series o waves or surges most commonly

caused by an earthquake beneath the sea oor.

An unusual lowering o ocean water, exposing the sea

oor, is a warning o a tsunami or other large wave. This

draw backmeans the water will surge back strongly.

Beaches, lagoons, bays, estuaries, tidal ats and rivermouths are the most dangerous places to be. It is rare

or a tsunami to penetrate more than a mile inland.

Tsunami waves are unlike normal coastal waves.

Tsunamis are more like a river in ood or a sloping

mountain o water and flled with debris.

Tsunamis cannot be sured. They have no ace or a

surboard to dig into and are usually flled with debris.

Large tsunamis may reach heights o twenty to fty eet

along the coast and even higher in a ew locales. The

frst tsunami surge is not the highest and the largest

surge may occur hours ater the frst wave. It is not

possible to predict how many surges or how much timewill elapse between waves be or a particular tsunami.

The entire Caliornia Coast is vulnerable to tsunamis. The

Crescent City Harbor on Caliornias North Coast

suered signifcant tsunami damage as recently as

2006. A dozen people were killed in Caliornia ollowing

the 1964 Alaska earthquake.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

About tsunamis: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/

Identiying natural hazards in your neighborhoodwww.myhazards.calema.ca.gov

Preparing or earthquakes and tsunamiswww.earthquakecountry.org

The Caliornia Geological Survey www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs

Or contact your county Oce o Emergency Services.

Prepared by: Caliornia Emergency Management

Agency Earthquake and Tsunami Program

3650 Schriever Avenue, Mather, CA 95655 (916) 845-8510

Concept and partial text rom the Redwood Coast

Tsunami Work Group.

HOLD ON

Protect yoursel during the earthquake

Move to high ground or inland

as soon as you can

Stay there

Prepared by:

DROP!

1

COVER!

2

HOLD ON!

3

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TWO WAYS TO FIND OUT IF A

TSUNAMI MAY BE COMING

1. NATURAL WARNING

Strong ground shaking, a loud ocean roar, or the

water receding unusually ar exposing the sea oor

are all natures warnings that a tsunami may be

coming. I you observe any o these warning signs,

immediately go to higher ground or inland. A tsunamimay arrive within minutes and may last or eight hours

or longer. Stay away rom coastal areas until ocials

announce that it is sae to return.

WHEN SHOULD I EVACUATE?

Evacuation should not be automatic. Beore evacuating

you should determine i you are in a hazard zone and

consider possible hazards that may exist along your

evacuation route.

Know i you live, work, or play in a tsunami hazard zone.

COUNT how long the earthquake lasts. I you eel

more than 20 seconds o very strong ground shakingand are in a tsunami hazard zone, evacuate as soon

as it is sae to do so.

I you are on the beach or in a harbor and eel an

earthquakeno matter how smallimmediately

move inland or to high ground.

GO ON FOOT. Roads and bridges may be damaged.

Avoid downed power lines.

I evacuation is impossible, go to the third or higher

oor o a sturdy building or climb a tree. This should

only be used as a last resort.

I you hear that a tsunami warning has been issued butdid not eel an earthquake, get more inormation. Listen

to the radio, television or other inormation sources and

ollow the instructions o emergency personnel.

I you are outside o a tsunami hazard zone, take no

action. You are saer staying where you are.

PREPARE NOW

How you prepare will aect how you recover. And being

prepared or earthquakes and tsunamis prepares you or

all kinds o disasters.

Know i you live, work, or play in a tsunami hazard zone.

Learn what the recommended tsunami evacuation

routes are in your city, county and region. Identiy

saety zone(s) near you, and decide on your primaryand secondary evacuation routes.

I you live or work in a tsunami hazard zone get a

NOAA weather radio with the public alert eature or

your home and oce. It will alert you even i turned o.

Assemble a small evacuation kit with essential documents,

medications, a ashlight, a portable NOAA weather

radio and batteries, water, snacks and warm clothes.

Include a silver space blanket in your kit it can be

used to signal your location to air search teams. Keep

your evacuation kit by the door so you can grab & go.

Walk your route consider what you would do at

night or in stormy weather.

Make a reunifcation plan with your loved ones.

Decide when and where you will meet i you are

separated, and what out o state relative or riend

you will call i it is not possible to meet at your pre-

designated reunifcation spot.

Discuss plans with amily, coworkers and neighbors.

Make plans or how to address any unctional needs

or disabilities you might have. I you need help

evacuating, prearrange assistance rom neighbors

including transport o mobility devices and durable

medical equipment. I you are mobility impaired,account or the extra time that you may need.

Decide on the best strategy or protecting your pets.

Prepare to be on your own or several days or longer.

Consider joining your Community Emergency

Response Team (www.csc.ca.gov/cc/cert.asp)

WHERE SHOULD I GO?All Caliornia coastal counties have tsunami hazard

guidance maps and are in the process o posting tsunami

hazard zone signs. These signs and maps will show youwhat areas are sae and what areas may be at risk. Use

them to guide you to a sae area.Natural and ocial warnings are equally important.

Respond to whichever comes frst.

I no maps or signs are available, go to an area 100

eet above sea level or two miles inland, away rom

the coast. I you cannot get this ar, go as high aspossible. Every oot inland or upwards can make a

dierence.

2. OFFICIAL WARNING

You may hear that a Tsunami Warning has been

issued. Tsunami Warnings might come via radio,

television, telephone, text message, door-to-door

contact by emergency responders, NOAA weather

radios, or in some cases by outdoor sirens. Move

away rom the beach and seek more inormation on

local radio or television stations. Follow the directions

o emergency personnel who may request you toevacuate beaches and low-lying coastal areas. Use

your phone only or lie-threatening emergencies.