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Campaign focuses on tsunami awareness
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More from County NewsMarch is tsunami awareness month, and authorities are reminding residents of coastal communities they could be vulnerable to massive waves.
Tsunamis are ocean waves caused by large earthquakes and underwater disturbances such as volcanic eruptions. They can travel hundreds of miles per hour and are often filled with debris. They can not be surfed.
Tsunamis are rare on the West Coast. About a dozen have hit California since 1812, according to a brochure from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services. In 1964, a tsunami killed a dozen people in Crescent City.
Warning signs that precede tsunamis often include strong shaking near the coast, a dramatic drop in sea level near the shore and a roaring sound.
In the event of strong coastal shaking, people within a mile of the shore should quickly walk inland or move to higher ground, according to a brochure from the Oxnard Fire Department. Driving is not advised, because roads could become clogged.
Tsunamis can be a series of waves that may occur hours apart, so people should stay away from the coast after a tsunami.
The Channel Islands would not necessarily impede a tsunami, and many of the county's low-lying coastal areas could be vulnerable to a huge wave, according to the Oxnard Fire Department.
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