Washington

Welcome to the TsunamiZone in Washington!

Washington is earthquake and tsunami country! Washington’s outer and inner coasts are highly vulnerable to tsunamis thanks to the presence of numerous crustal faults and the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) offshore. The CSZ has been responsible for 19 earthquakes of magnitude 9+ in the last 10,000 years.

Evidence of the most recent Cascadia earthquake and tsunami to hit Washington’s shores in 1700 remains in the form of ghost forests, tsunami sand deposits, and the oral traditions of Native Americans. This tsunami also travelled across the Pacific Ocean to hit the shores of Japan where it was known as the “Orphan Tsunami” until evidence linked it back to the Cascadia earthquake.

With over 3,000 miles of coastline, 58 coastal communities, significant harbor and coastal infrastructure, and a large at-risk population, Washington continues to make tsunami hazard reduction a high emergency management priority. The Washington State Tsunami Program empowers individuals and communities to make the informed risk management decisions necessary for adapting to, withstanding, and quickly recovering from tsunami hazard incidents. It supports local jurisdictions in this effort by promoting tsunami planning, educating coastal residents and visitors about tsunami dangers, ensuring functionality of onshore communications infrastructure, and developing mitigation strategies, as well as continuing to collaborate with other states and federal partners in pursuit of these objectives.

Annual Events

Great Washington ShakeOut

Thursday, October 19, 2023

*Each third Thursday of October. However, you can hold a drill on any day that still counts too! Visit ShakeOut.org/washington to register and learn more.


participants registered

Tsunami Videos

Tsunamis: Be Prepared and Stay Safe!

Tsunami wave simulation for WA

Tsunami Preparedness along the West Coast

Project Safe Haven

 

Are You Two Weeks Ready?
Check out the video below or visit Disaster Ready Washington to learn more.

Tsunami Message Definitions

 

 

Resources

There are multiple ways you can receive emergency alerts in Washington state, including tsunami alerts, ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warnings, local alerts, and others. You can visit https://mil.wa.gov/alerts to learn more.

Tsunami Evacuation Maps

Are you In the Tsunami Zone?






 


Questions?

Contact Elyssa Tappero, Tsunami Program Coordinator, at elyssa.tappero@mil.wa.gov

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