The City of Huntington Beach has been certified by the National Weather Service as TsunamiReady.
The City Tsunami Evacuation Map:
The word "tsunami" is Japanese and means 'harbor wave,' because of the devastating effects these waves have had on low-lying coastal communities. Tsunamis are often incorrectly referred to as tidal waves, but a tsunami is actually a series of waves that can travel at speeds averaging 450 (and up to 600) miles per hour in the open ocean. In the open ocean, tsunamis would not be felt by ships because the wavelength would be hundreds of miles long, with an amplitude of only a few feet. This would also make them unnoticeable from the air. As the waves approach the coast, their speed decreases and their amplitude increases. Unusual wave heights have been known to be over 100 feet high. However, waves that are 10 to 20 feet high can be very destructive and cause many deaths or injuries.
Adapted from the International Tsunami Information Center at www.tsunamiwave.info.
All eight fire stations in Huntington Beach have warning sirens that will be used in the event of a tsunami. They are tested at noon on the first Friday of each month. When you hear the siren activate at any other time, turn on your AM/FM radio to 107.9 and turn your TV to a local LA based station (KCAL, KTLA, etc) to listen for emergency information.
Stay tuned to your AM/FM radio or television stations during a tsunami emergency. Bulletins issued through the Huntington Beach Emergency Management and Homeland Security Office and NOAA offices can help save your life!
For more information on tsunamis see:
For information about Fire Department education programs, please see Safety Education.
City of Huntington Beach
Fire Department
2000 Main Street
Huntington Beach, CA
Phone: (714) 536-5411
Fax: (714) 374-1551
Email: