Tsunami

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:

• Hammond
• Astoria Central
• Astoria East
• Astoria West
• Fort Stevens State Park
• Warrenton North
• Warrenton East
• Warrenton South
• Jeffers Garden
• Gearhart North
• Gearhart South
• Seaside North
• Seaside South
• Cannon Beach North
• Cannon Beach South
• Arch Cape
• Arch Cape / Falcon Cove (2013 map)

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

Astoria Assembly Areas

Cannon Beach Assembly Areas

Gearhart& Seaside Assembly Areas

Sunset Beach & Del Rey Beach Assembly Areas

Warrenton Assembly Areas

Youngs River Valley Assembly Areas

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

Websites

• What is a Tsunami?
• Ready.gov Tsunami
• Tsunami Preparedness
• Tsunami Facts & Information

Articles

• "The 10 Most Destructive tsunamis in history"
• "The Great Tsunami of 1964"
• "The new ‘How-To’ for tsunami-safe buildings:  'We’re trying to save Lives'”
• "Japan then and Now"
• "Ten Years Since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami"
• "Story map:  NOAA Mitigation the impact of killer waves"