Clatsop County residents and guests are at risk of being impacted by tsunamis, a series of waves usually caused by an undersea earthquake.
As these waves enter shallow water near land, they increase in height and can cause great loss of life and property damage.
The first wave is often not the largest. Additional waves may be spaced many minutes apart and can continue arriving for several hours.
Tsunamis may be caused by an earthquake near shore, such as one generated at the Cascadia fault line, or they may be created by a quake hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Tsunamis move faster than a person can run.
- Go to an area 50 feet above sea level, if possible.
- If you are in a multi-story building and don't have time to travel to high ground, go to an upper level of the home or building.
- If you are on the beach and cannot get to high ground, go inland as far as you can.
- Go on foot if possible, particularly if an earthquake has caused damage to roads, power lines, and resulted in significant debris.
Do NOT return to shore after the first wave – tsunamis usually occur as a series of many waves. Wait until the official tsunami warning or alert has been lifted.
Near the Shore
In the case of a near-shore earthquake, the first wave comes quickly. It will reach the coast in 15 to 20 minutes. That means you have to get to high ground immediately once the quake ends. Do not wait for a siren or other official warning.
Distant or Far Away Earthquakes
A tsunami generated by a distant earthquake may take several hours to reach the Oregon Coast. Emergency officials will provide warnings through local radio broadcasts. Some local communities also have their own public warning systems. If you hear a solid three-minute siren blast, that’s the signal to evacuate. Distant tsunamis are generally smaller than those generated nearer to shore, but can still cause considerable damage
Signs of a Tsunami
A sign that a tsunami is coming often is a sudden change in the sea level. If you are at the beach and see the sea level suddenly rise or fall, quickly get to higher ground.
Tsunami Evacuation Route Maps show tsunami inundation zones, evacuation routes and gathering points for communities in Clatsop County.
These maps are based on the latest scientific data, identifying areas at risk of inundation from a projected worst-case local, Cascadia zone tsunami, and a worst-case distant generated tsunami.
The maps show generalized evacuation routes. The needed tsunami evacuation speeds shown on the maps listed below represent the speeds required to escape a maximum considered tsunami generated from a local Cascadia subduction zone earthquake.
Clatsop County Evacuation Routes (from north to south) are available for these areas:
Assembly areas are locations established by DOGAMI (The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries) where evacuees can assemble after a Tsunami event. These are only used for Tsunamis.
Below are listings of planned Assembly Areas by city.
Arch Cape Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
Walsh Ln | Walsh Ln & Raven Hill Rd | Walsh Ln | Raven Hill Rd |
Saint Peter the Fisherman Church | Upland Ln & Hwy 101 | Upland Ln | Hwy 101 |
Buena Vista Dr | Top of Buena Vista Dr hill | Buena Vista Dr | |
Shannon Ln | Top of Shannon Ln hill | Shannon Ln | |
Ray Brown Rd & Columbia St | Ray Brown Rd & Columbia St | Ray Brown Rd | Columbia St |
Ray Brown Rd & Cove Beach Rd | Ray Brown Rd & Cove Beach Rd | Ray Brown Rd | Cove Beach Rd |
Ray Brown Rd | Ray Brown Rd & Clatsop Ln | Ray Brown Rd | Clatsop Ln |
Astoria Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
Clatsop County Fair Grounds | Clatsop County Fairgrounds | Walluski Lp | |
Oregon Dept of Forestry | Oregon Dept of Forestry | Hwy 202 | Walluski Lp |
Western Oregon Waste | Recology garbage dump | Williamsport Rd | |
Astoria Middle School | Astoria Middle School | Klaskanine Ave | |
Skate Park | Tapiola skate park | Denver St | Florence Ave |
Fred Lindstrom Memorial Park | Fred Lindstrom Memorial Park | Niagra Ave | 6th St |
Clatsop Community College | Clatsop Community College | Lexington Ave | 16th St |
Astor Elementary School | Astor elementary school | Franklin Ave | 35th St |
Alderbrook Park | Alderbrook Park | Leif Erickson Dr | 45th St |
Tongue Point parking | Tongue Point parking S. bridge | Tongue Point Rd | |
Hwy 101 & Liberty Ln | Hwy 30 & Liberty Ln | Hwy 30 | Liberty Ln |
Lewis & Clark Elementary | Lewis & Clark Elementary | Lewis & Clark School Rd |
Cannon Beach Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
8th Street/Ecola Park Rd | 8th Street & Ecola Park Rd | 8th Street | Ecola Park Rd |
6th St/Old Cannon Beach Rd | 6th St & Old Cannon Beach Rd | 6th St | Old Cannon Beach Rd |
E Sunset Blvd | E Sunset Blvd & Seascape Dr | E Sunset Blvd | Seascape Dr |
Spruce Ln/Arbor Ln | Spruce St & Arbor Ln | Spruce St | Arbor Ln |
E Chinook Ave | S end of E Chinook Ave | E Chinook Ave | |
Tolovana Mainline | Tolovana Mainline & Hwy 101 | Tolovana Mainline | Hwy 101 |
Surfcrest Ave | Top of E Surfcrest Ave hill | E Surfcrest Ave | |
Yukon St | Yukon St & Vista Del Mar Dr | Yukon St | Vista Del Mar Dr |
Hwy 101 | Via E Hills Ln trail | Hwy 101 | E Hills Ln Trail |
Elk Creek Rd | Elk Creek Rd & Cascara Ln | Elk Creek Rd | Cascara Ln |
Gearhart& Seaside Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
Gearhart Ave | N Marion Ave & Sea Breeze Blvd | N Marion Ave | Sea Breeze Blvd |
Pine Ridge Dr/Shamrock Rd | Pine Ridge Dr & Shamrock Rd | Pine Ridge Dr | Shamrock Rd |
Water tank | Via trail/road off Salminen Ln | Salminen Ln | |
Sheridan Dr | Reserve at Gearhart park | Sheridan Dr | Browning Ln |
Summit Ave | N end of Summit Ave | Summit Ave | |
Royal View Dr | Near water tank | Royal View Dr | |
Broadway St/Hilltop Dr | Broadway St & Hilltop Dr | Broadway St | Hilltop Dr |
Ecola State Park | Top of Sunset Blvd hill | Sunset Blvd | |
Huckleberry Dr & Cooper St | E end of Huckleberry Dr | Huckleberry Dr | Cooper St |
Skyline Dr | Skyline Dr & Elkridge Ct | Skyline Dr | Elkridge Ct |
Thompson Falls Dr | S end of Thompson Falls | Thompson Falls Dr | |
Middle Fork Rd | E end of Middle Fork Cir | Middle Fork Circle | |
North Fork Rd | North Fork Rd & North Fork Ct | North Fork Rd | North Fork Ct |
Sunset Beach & Del Rey Beach Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
West Anderson Rd | West Anderson Rd & Dellmoor Lp | West Anderson Rd | Dellmoor Lp |
Sunset Beach Ln & Par Rd | Sunset Beach Ln & Par Rd | Sunset Beach Ln | Par Rd |
Ivyloo Acres Ln | W end of Ivyloo Acres Ln | Ivyloo Acres Ln | |
Rilea Pacific Rd | First left in Camp Rilea | Pacific Rd | Camp Rilea |
Warrenton Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
NW Peter Iredale Rd/Ridge Rd | NW Peter Iredale Rd & Ridge Rd | NW Peter Iredale Rd | Ridge Rd |
Cemetery | Oceanview Cemetery | SW 18th St | Oceanview Cemetery |
SW Juniper Ave | Hill on SW Juniper Ave | SW Juniper Ave | |
Soccer Field East | Soccer field east | NW Ridge Rd | Camp Kiwanilong Rd |
Soccer Field West | Soccer field west | NW Ridge Rd | Camp Kiwanilong Rd |
Jetty Rd & Ridge Rd | Jetty Rd & Ridge Rd | Jetty Rd | Ridge Rd |
Russell Drive | Ft Stevens National Cemetery | Russell Drive | |
Ensign Ln/SE 19th St | Ensign Ln & SE 19th St | Ensign Ln | SE 19th St |
Fort Clatsop Parking Area | Parking area at Ft. Clatsop | Fort Clatsop Rd |
Youngs River Valley Assembly Areas
Location Name/Area | Address | Cross Street | Cross Street |
Fort Clatsop Parking Area | Parking area at Ft. Clatsop | Fort Clatsop Rd | |
Mudd Ln | N end of Mudd Ln | Mudd Ln | |
Seppa Ln | Lewis & Clark Bible Church | Seppa Ln | Lewis & Clark Rd |
Fire Station | Lewis & Clark fire station | Logan Rd | M and M Rd |
Lewis & Clark Elementary | Lewis & Clark elementary | Lewis & Clark School Rd |
Resources
- Ready Emergency Supply List
- "Beat the Wave" Tsunami Evacuation Map - SEASIDE, OREGON - SOUTH
- "Beat the Wave" Tsunami Evacuation Map - SEASIDE, OREGON - NORTH
- Tsunami Evacuation Analysis of Astoria and Nearby Unincorporated Communities, Clatsop County, Oregon
- Tsunami Evacuation Analysis of Cannon Beach, Arch Cape, and Falcon Cove, Clatsop County, Oregon
Public Service Announcements
- Tsunami 101
- Kids Tsunami Preparedness Video Contest Winner
- Japan Earthquake/Tsunami PSA
- CG Simulation of Tsunami Aims to Spur Awareness