PRESS RELEASE

Tsunami Awareness Week is March 26 to 30, 2018 and the City of Long Beach will be hosting events and activities throughout the month to educate residents on actions they can take to prepare for and respond to a tsunami.

“We are fortunate to live on the Pacific Rim with miles of beautiful beaches and oceanfront views, however with that comes the risk of a tsunami,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “Tsunami Awareness Week provides an opportunity for residents to practice their plans to survive a tsunami should one occur.”  

Tsunamis can be caused by a local or near-source earthquake, a far-source earthquake, or a landslide under the sea. With a near-source tsunami, people could have as little as 15 minutes before it reaches the shore. A far-source tsunami could take up to 15 hours before land impact. When a tsunami is imminent, residents can generally mitigate injury by quickly moving to higher ground.

“Residents are encouraged to create a tsunami survival plan that includes a place to meet with family members in the event they are separated. It should also include an emergency kit with seven days of supplies,” said Reggie Harrison, Director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications. “Unlike earthquakes, tsunamis generally give warnings, and lives can be saved by being aware of the natural warning signs and by following the orders of first responders.”

Tsunami preparedness activities in March include:

• The Aquarium of the Pacific will host a Tsunami Science and Preparedness Panel on March 8 at 7:00 p.m. Topics at this free event will include: which areas of southern California are most at risk for a tsunami, what are the natural warning signs of a tsunami, and what residents and businesses can do to protect themselves. The public can reserve their free tickets by calling (562) 590-3100, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. or by visiting www.aquariumofpacific.org.
• The Long Beach Tsunami Walk and Resource Fair will be held on March 17 at the Will Rogers Mini Park (Appian Way and Nieto Avenue, Long Beach, 90814).  The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the walk taking place shortly thereafter.  Residents living in the tsunami inundation/flood zone and anyone wanting to get prepared, are encouraged to attend. Participants will walk to a designated safe zone where Disaster Preparedness staff will answer questions and provide additional information. The Walk and Fair will conclude at 12:00 p.m.
• During the week of March 26 - 30, the City will test its ability to communicate with residents in the tsunami inundation/flood zone who have signed up to receive AlertLongBeach emergency notifications. All residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertLongBeach, at www.longbeach.gov/DisasterPreparedness, to receive a voice, email or text message on their computer or mobile device.
• Throughout the month of March, Disaster Preparedness staff will canvass residences and businesses in the tsunami inundation/flood zone, to hand out the Tsunami Preparedness Guide, designed for Long Beach residents to learn how to survive a tsunami. Staff will also distribute information through social media and conduct a Facebook live educational session @LongBeachDisasterPreparedness.

All residents are encouraged to be prepared and self-sufficient for up to seven days following a disaster by creating an emergency supply kit filled with items that are used on a daily basis. Residents are also encouraged to join the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or take classes through the American Red Cross to learn basic emergency medical procedures. For additional information on tsunamis, inundation zones, and other disaster preparedness topics, please visit the department’s website at www.longbeach.gov/DisasterPreparedness. To stay tuned to disaster preparedness news and information, follow us on Twitter @LongBeachReady or “Like” us on Facebook @LongBeachDisasterPreparedness.

About Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications

The mission of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is to protect the lives and property of the community and first responders through comprehensive planning, training and communication to ensure that daily requests for emergency services, as well as preparedness, response, and  recovery from major emergencies and disasters is completed in an effective and efficient manner.