The March 11, 2011 Tohoku Tsunami In and California March 11, 2011 Santa Cruz where strong TSUNAMI IN JAPAN: tsunami surges damaged all docks. TSUNAMI IN A magnitude 9.0 earthquake off CALIFORNIA: Ten hours of northeastern Honshu after the tsunami was generated in caused a massive tsunami that Japan, the trans-Pacific tsunami first arrived on-shore within 20- reached the California coast. The 30 minutes after the earthquake. largest tsunami wave heights were The tsunami measured 30-feet eight feet in Crescent City. high at the coast along the Although only very localized on- Sendai Plain with a maximum Japan California land flooding occurred, strong run-up to an elevation of 130 coastal currents in and around feet at Aneyoshi Bay located March 11, 2011 – Catastrophic flooding on the Sendai Plain. harbors and bays were significant. further to the north. Modeled maximum IMPACTS IN March 11, 2013 Okawa Elementary School, Ishinomaki, where 74 IMPACTS IN JAPAN: tsunami students perished. Although 200,000 people CALIFORNIA: One successfully evacuated, tragically amplitudes across person was killed and 27 harbors over 18,000 people were killed or sustained a total of $100M in remain missing in Japan because the Pacific Ocean, damages. In particular, all docks of the tsunami. The Fukushima in Crescent City and Santa Cruz Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant from the National harbors were damaged or suffered a catastrophic meltdown destroyed by several strong Oceanic and tsunami surges that arrived over causing long-term radiation March 28, 2011 Crescent City where boats and docks were heavily problems. The World Bank the next 24+ hours. A major damaged. estimates the earthquake and Atmospheric disaster declaration was issued tsunami was the costliest natural Administration for in the state by President Obama. disaster in world history at $235B. the RECOVERY IN JAPAN: RECOVERY IN After several years, communities 2015 Rikuzentakata, where the land level is being raised. March 11, 2011 CALIFORNIA: have started to rebuild using event. Sedimentation, environmental coastal setbacks, raised land, and issues, and damage inside other engineered, protective several harbors delayed measures. Significant segments rebuilding efforts by several of the impacted population have years. Larger piles and moved to other regions and will stronger docks were required likely not return. Large portions in harbors like Crescent City of the may and Santa Cruz to make them not be repopulated because of 2014 Crescent City where 30-inch piles are being used to make more “tsunami resilient” in the nuclear disaster. the harbor more tsunami resistant. future events.

What is a Tsunami? Preparing for a Tsunami For More Information • Tsunamis are long ocean waves which are typically caused by a • First, review information about the tsunami risk to coastal areas where displacement of the ocean floor, commonly initiated by large you live, work, or visit. www.tsunami.ca.gov earthquakes in the rock beneath the sea floor. • Become familiar with your local evacuation plan and practice evacuating www.tsunamizone.org • Tsunamis grow in height near shore because the water shallows. to become familiar with your evacuation route. • Tsunamis form a series of waves which can be very large in the near- • For local events, watch for “natural warning signs” like feeling a large All photos by Rick Wilson or stills from online videos of the tsunami activity and impacts from the March 11, 2011 event. source region (like in 2011 in Japan) and potentially large and damaging earthquake, hearing abnormal ocean roar, or seeing the water recede, Central image shows trans-Pacific forecasted maximum thousands of miles away (like in 2011 in California). and get to high ground immediately. Any one sign could be an indication tsunami amplitudes from the National Oceanic and of tsunami danger. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the March 11, 2011 • Dangerous conditions can include swift moving flooding, strong currents event. and large eddies, and viscous sediment-laden water. They cannot be • Follow the instructions of the local emergency managers. The image at the bottom is from Russian Academy of Sciences illustrating tsunami generation, propagation, and inundation. surfed.