Welcome to Pepperridge North Valley's
Hawaiian Earthquakes Page

• Latest Tsunami Event - Message (Text)
• Latest Tsunami Event - Map
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

What Is A Tsunami?

Tsunami (soo-NAH-mee): a Japanese word that means harbor wave; a sea wave of local or distant origin that results from large-scale seafloor displacements associated with large earthquakes, major submarine slides, or exploding volcanic islands. Typically generated by seismic or volcanic activity or by underwater landslides, a tsunami consists of a series of high-energy waves that radiate outward like pond ripples from the area in which the generating event occurred.

Not all earthquakes produce tsunamis. To generate a tsunami, an earthquake must occur underneath or near the ocean, be very large (approximately Richter magnitude 7 or greater), and create vertical movement of the sea floor. However, recent studies regarding the potential for a great Cascadia Subduction zone earthquake off the Washington, Oregon, and Northern California coastlines indicate the local tsunami waves may reach nearby coastal communities within minutes of the earthquake thereby giving little or no time to issue warnings.

How will I know if a Tsunami is coming?

The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WC/ATWC) is responsible for tsunami warnings for California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alaska.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) provides warnings to international authorities, Hawaii, and U.S. Territories within the Pacific Basin.

The WC/ATWC and PTWC may issue the following bulletins:

• Information:  A message with information about an earthquake that is not expected to generate a tsunami.
• Advisory:  An earthquake has occurred in the Pacific Basin, which might generate a tsunami.
• Watch:  A tsunami was or may have been generated, but is at least two hours travel time to the area in Watch status.
• Warning:  A tsunami was, or may have been generated, which could cause damage; therefore, people in the warned area are strongly advised to evacuate.

• A warning siren may sound.
• Seawater may recede quickly.
• The ground may shake, indicating an earthquake has occurred.
• Your NOAA Tone Alert radio issues a warning that a tsunami may be headed to your area.
• Sign up for free Email and Text Mesage Tsunami Alerts from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

Tsunami Evacuation Maps

Additional information on evacation routes for Hawai'i can be found at the following link; Hawai'i Evacuation routes.

Please Visit our other Hawaiian Pages: Hawaiian Tsunami Info Page ·  Hawaiian Volcanos Activity Page ·  Hawaiian Weather Page

Kãne‘ohe and Kãne‘ohe Bay with the Koolau Mountains as backdrop - Windward - Oahu, Hawaii

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