NB Reaction to Tsunami Alert, Jan. 24

City of North Bend news release.  At 2:06 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, NBPD Dispatch was notified that a Tsunami watch was issued for our area as a result of a reported 8.2 magnitude earthquake 175 miles S.E. of Kodiak Alaska. Upon receipt of the message NBPD Dispatch followed the city’s protocols, consistent with the requirements of the city’s emergency response plan. The city activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC)  and recalled all emergency services personnel well as other staff to begin the process of mobilizing and setting up the EOC as well as moving necessary equipment to higher ground. All tsunami shelters were notified to make preparations should the watch be upgraded to a warning and evacuations of low lying areas within the city be ordered. As part of the protocols the NB EOC was in communications with Coast Guard Sector North Bend to coordinate responses to the situation. At 4:40 a.m. the City received official notification that the Tsunami Watch had been cancelled.  Upon receipt of the notification the city began the process of standing down the EOC and returning city operations to their pre-watch conditions. Supplemental Educational Information – By way of supplemental information Tsunami messages are issued by the federal tsunami warning centers. For North Bend that center is the National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska. The Center’s responsibility is to notify emergency managers, local officials, and the public about the potential for a tsunami following a possible tsunami-generating event.  For us on the Oregon coast, these messages include alerts. There are four levels of tsunami alerts: Information statement, watch, warning, and advisory: • Tsunami Information Statement: Relax—An earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat or it was very far away and the threat has not been determined. In most cases, there is no threat of a destructive tsunami. • Tsunami Watch: Be Prepared—A distant earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is possible. Stay tuned for more information. Be prepared to take action if necessary. • Tsunami Warning: Take Action—Danger! A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or days after initial arrival. Follow instructions from local officials. Evacuation is recommended. Move to high ground or inland (away from the water). • Tsunami Advisory: Take Action—A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas. Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Follow instructions from local officials. Tuesday, Jan. 23, we were operating under a Tsunami Watch and as was the case today tsunami warnings, advisories and watches may be updated or cancelled as information becomes available. Advisories, watches and information statements may be upgraded if the threat is determined to be greater than originally thought. Tsunami warnings are broadcast through local radio and television, marine radio, wireless emergency alerts, NOAA Weather Radio and NOAA websites (like Tsunami.gov). They may also come through outdoor sirens, local officials, text message alerts and telephone notifications. There may not always be enough time for an official warning, so it is important that you understand natural warnings. If you are at the coast and feel a strong or long earthquake, see a sudden rise or fall of the ocean or hear a loud roar from the ocean, a tsunami may follow. This is your warning. Take action and move to a safe place. Do not wait for official instructions.