Tsunami Warnings

To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #3 issued 02/27/2010 at 12:57AM PST

A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

A tsunami has been generated that could potentially impact the U.S. west coast, British Columbia, and Alaska. The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center is investigating the event to determine the level of danger. More information will be issued as it becomes available.

A tsunami has been observed at the following sites:

 Location                   Lat.   Lon.    Time        Amplitude
 ------------------------  -----  ------  -------     -----------
 30min     Talcahuano  C   36.7S   73.1W  0659UTC    1.8M/6.0ft
 22min     Valparaiso  C   33.0S   71.4W  0659UTC    1.69M/5.7FT
 20min     Corral  Chile   39.9S   73.4W  0729UTC    1.45M/4.8FT
 14min     San Felix   C   26.3S   80.1W  0809UTC    0.69M/2.3FT

Time – Time of measurement.
Amp. – Tsunami amplitudes are measured relative to normal sea level. It is NOT crest-to-trough wave height. Values are given in both meters (M) and feet (FT).

At 10:34 PM Pacific Standard Time on February 26, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.8(REVISED FROM 8.6) occurred near the coast of central Chile . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii will issue a tsunami warning for regions near the epicenter.

Messages will continue to be issued hourly by the WCATWC until the event status is upgraded to a warning or advisory, or until the center has determined that the event poses no threat to the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information,safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table. (NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave dangerous to the U.S. and Canadian coasts was generated.)

Link to Standard Information Statement
Link to Public Information Statement
Link to XML/CAP Message
Link to Printable Message

U.S. Geological Survey
Circular 1187
Version 1.1

Surviving a Tsunami—Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan

Actions that saved lives, and actions that cost lives, as recounted by eyewitnesses to the tsunami from the largest earthquake ever measured—the magnitude 9.5 earthquake in Chile on May 22, 1960. In interviews several decades later, people in Chile, Hawaii, and Japan recall the tsunami

Their accounts contain lessons on tsunami survival:

Many Will Survive the Earthquake

Heed Natural Warnings

Heed Official Warnings

Expect Many Waves

Head for High Ground and Stay There

Abandon Belongings

Don’t Count on the Roads

Go to an Upper Floor or Roof of a Building

Climb a Tree

Climb onto Something that Floats

Expect the Waves to Leave Debris

Expect Quakes to Lower Coastal Land

Expect Company

Wave versus Tsunami