Tsunami evacuation warning for Hawaii

[Nerys Ghemor]

I realize I've started a separate topic even though this is Chile earthquake-related--but I want the heading to get the attention of any Hawaii residents we have here.

If you are in a coastal area of Hawaii, you need to get to high ground immediately; an evacuation order has been issued.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587588,00.html

 

[Emher]

I made comment in the other thread about the tsunami in the ocean outside of Japan and being angry about the media scaring everyone...but this has me a bit worried. If they think it might be that serious in Hawaii, there's a chance it will hit Japan with quite some force.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

8.8 magnitude? Oh my God.

 

[Candlelight]

2m high wave just hit French Polynesia.

New Zealand expecting a 3m high wave in the next hour.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

If only they were waves and not walls of water. Yikes.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

and the entire west coast of North America

 

[PlixTixiplik]

It's just a tsunami advisory for the west coast of the US and Canada. The wave was only 0.5 feet at Acapulco and 1 foot at Cabo San Lucas so the threat is not large. It is possible to get local amplification due to the shape of the coastline, so it's probably not the best idea to take a romantic walk along the beach in the next few hours, but I wouldn't worry either.

 

[Miss Chicken]

We have had a tsunami warning issued here but basically all it is saying is not to go down to the beaches to watch the waves come in. The wave is meant to reach here in about another 90 minutes.

 

[kustirider2]

This is awful! I hope the people in these countries get out of this alright

 

[Tiberius Jim]

I'm pretty sure I'm far enough inland from the Bay to be okay if something does happen. I'd be worried about San Francisco and all fo the other coastal cities. 8.8...that's crazy.

 

[Thena]

All signs indicate that the first wave -- more like a surge -- is hitting Hilo, Hawaii, right now. I'm crossing my fingers that people are staying put in the evacuation areas since the initial reports don't look as dramatic as the media drummed it up to be.

 

[Q2UnME]

^ possibly the second wave came in at 3 ft. (1 meter). So far so good. CNN reported it looks like 20 min. per wave cycle. Also looks like the Islands are currently at a low tide state, which actually might be helping to alleviate a damage situation.

Stay safe out there!

Q2

 

[Gryffindorian]

I'm pretty sure I'm far enough inland from the Bay to be okay if something does happen. I'd be worried about San Francisco and all fo the other coastal cities. 8.8...that's crazy.

From what I've read, the West Coast won't be impacted much, but I'd be running for the hills if I was in Hilo.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

BBC reckons the wave could be anything up to 10m tall:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8540742.stm

Here's hoping it's not as bad as that.

 

[Mallory]

Figures this weekend would be the weekend my oldest daughter decided to spend at the beach. At least nothing other than some unpredictable currents are expected here, but she wasn't planning on going in the water anyway.

 

[Gaseous Anomaly]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100227/ap_on_re_us/quake_tsunami

Looks like Hawaii has been spared.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Awesome. What about he other Pacific islands?

 

[Miss Chicken]

I gather 5 people were killed by the tsunami on the Robinson Crusoe Islands off of Chile.

This is the warning issued for Tasmania about an hour ago.

TSUNAMI WARNING NUMBER 6 FOR TASMANIA
Issued by the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre [JATWC] at
9:47 AM EDT on Sunday 28 February 2010
********************************************************************************

TSUNAMI THREAT TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

********************************************************************************
SUMMARY:
Tsunami warning for the marine environment for TASMANIA.

Threatened areas extend from Northern Tip of Flinders Island to Low Rocky
Point, Banks Strait.

Possibility of dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding
for several hours from NOW.

Sea level observations HAVE confirmed a tsunami has been generated.

For further details visit the Bureau web site www.bom.gov.au.

Next update due by 11:17 AM EDT on Sunday 28 February 2010
********************************************************************************
DETAILS:
Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach waves, with the first
wave not always the largest. First tsunami effects are expected from NOW.

Check that your neighbours have received this advice.

Boats in harbours, estuaries or shallow coastal water should return to shore.
Secure your boat and move away from the waterfront. Vessels already at sea
should stay offshore in deep water until further advised.

Do not go to the coast to watch the tsunami, as there is the possibility of
dangerous, localised flooding of the immediate foreshore.

 

[Gryffindorian]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100227/ap_on_re_us/quake_tsunami

Looks like Hawaii has been spared.

That's good news. I was watching a live coverage on-line provided by one of the local stations in Hawaii. Earlier on they were saying it appeared that they had "dodged a bullet" this time but were not in the clear just yet. This was about 2:50 PM Pacific Time (12:50 PM in Hawaii). The local officials wanted to wait for an hour before they could lift the tsunami warning. And prior to that, some people had been surfing, flocking the beaches, and boating already. Luckily, that doesn't matter now that Hilo is safe.

 

[Candlelight]

We had a metre high wave but it hit a practically empty region. Nearby Pitt Island had 1.5 metres.