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March 11, 2011 in News
Tsunami hits Hawaii; five swept to sea on West Coast
Hotel employees gather at the hotel’s entrance in Tokyo, Japan while an earthquake hits Friday, March 11, 2011. Japan was struck by a magnitude-8.8 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, triggering a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter.
(Full-size photo)(All photos)
SEASIDE, Ore. (AP) — A tsunami on Friday sank several boats in Brookings harbor, swept half a dozen other boats out to sea and washed into the ocean four people who were later rescued, authorities in Southern Oregon said.
One man who was taking photos in Northern California was still missing Friday afternoon. Coast Guard helicopters searched for him near the mouth of the Klamath River in Del Norte County, Calif., but called his chances of survival slim in the cold, rough ocean.
Tsunami waves swamped Hawaii beaches and severely damaged harbors in California after devastating Japan and sparking evacuations throughout the Pacific.
Much of the commercial part of the harbor was destroyed, said Curry County Sheriff John Bishop. The damage was the worst reported in Oregon following the tsunami, which charged across the Pacific after being generated by an earthquake off Japan.
One man with a history of heart problems was found dead aboard a commercial vessel. It was unclear exactly how he died but it was likely from natural causes, Bishop said.
Four other people who went to a beach north of Brookings to watch the waves were swept into the sea, but all survived, Bishop said. Two got out on their own, and the other two were rescued.
Along most of the Oregon coast, people headed for high ground in the early morning and began returning home around noon.
The damage reports from Brookings emerged late in the morning, after state officials said it appeared Oregon had escaped major harm.
In the harbor at Brookings, Bishop said, damages will be in the millions of dollars.
“The port is in total disarray,” he told The Associated Press at midday Friday as the surges continued. “Most of the front part of the commercial basin is gone.”
The man who was found dead was described as a “live-aboard” on the vessel, Bishop said. He added that none of the vessels that were swept out to sea had people aboard.
Gov. John Kitzhaber held a press conference, at which he and other state leaders said preparations for the waves had gone well.
State geologist Vicki McConnell warned that Oregon faces the risk of a similar quake much closer to home, with much less notice, in an unstable area just off the Oregon coast called a subduction zone.
The waves were larger the farther south they hit the Oregon coast.
North of Brookings in the Coos County town Port Orford, waves measured at 3.7 feet higher than the normal sea level but caused no damage as the water surged back and forth between the levels for high and low tide.
Water rushed up on roadways and into hotel lobbies on Hawaii’s Big Island and low-lying areas in Maui were flooded as 7-foot waves crashed ashore. Large waves also hit the U.S. western coast, shaking loose boats that weren’t moved in time and tearing apart wooden docks in at least two California harbors.
“This is just devastating. I never thought I’d see this again,” said Ted Scott, a retired mill worker who lived in Crescent City when a 1964 tsunami killed 17 people on the West Coast, including 11 in his town. “I watched the docks bust apart. It buckled like a graham cracker.”
The waves didn’t make it over a 20-foot break wall protecting the rest of the city, and no serious injuries or home damage was immediately reported.
Scientists warned that the first tsunami waves are not always the strongest, and officials said people in Hawaii and along the West Coast should remain vigilant. Still, the tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory in Hawaii, and Gov. Neil Abercrombie said the islands were “fortunate almost beyond words.”
“All of us had that feeling that Hawaii was just the most blessed place on the face of the Earth today,” he said.
The tsunami, spawned by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan, killing hundreds as it slammed the eastern coast of Japan, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. It raced across the Pacific at 500 mph — as fast as a jetliner — before hitting Hawaii and the West Coast. Sirens sounded for hours on the islands and the West Coast before dawn and roadways and beaches were mostly empty as the tsunami struck.
Damage estimates in Crescent city were in the millions, and more boats and docks were hit in Santa Cruz on California’s central coast. Surges are expected throughout the afternoon.
President Barack Obama said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is ready to come to the aid of any U.S. states or territories who need help.
It is the second time in a little over a year that Hawaii and the U.S. West coast faced the threat of a massive tsunami. A magnitude-8.8 earthquake in Chile spawned warnings on Feb. 27, 2010, but the waves were much smaller than predicted and did little damage.
Scientists then acknowledged they overstated the threat but defended their actions, saying they took the proper steps and learned the lessons of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami that killed thousands of people who didn’t get enough warning.
This time around, the warning went out within 10 minutes of the earthquake in Japan, said Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu.
“We called this right. This evacuation was necessary,” Fryer said. “There’s absolutely no question, this was the right thing to do,” he said.
The warnings issued by the tsunami center covered an area stretching the entire western coast of the United States and Canada from the Mexican border to Chignik Bay in Alaska.
Many islands in the Pacific evacuated, but officials later told residents to go home because the waves weren’t as bad as expected.
In Guam, the waves broke two U.S. Navy submarines from their moorings, but tug boats corralled the subs and brought them back to their pier. No damage was reported to Navy ships in Hawaii.
In the Canadian pacific coast province of British Columbia, authorities evacuated marinas, beaches and other areas.
Officials in two coastal Washington counties used an automated phone alert system, phoning residents on the coast and in low-lying areas and asking them to move to higher ground.
“We certainly don’t want to cry wolf,” said Sheriff Scott Johnson of Washington’s Pacific County. “We just have to hope we’re doing the right thing based on our information. We don’t want to be wrong and have people hurt or killed.
In Oregon, at least one hotel was evacuated in the northern part of the state. Restaurants, gift shops and other beachfront business stayed shuttered, and schools up and down the coast were closed.
Albert Wood of Seaside, Ore., said he and his wife decided to leave their home late Thursday night after watching news about the Japan quake. They stood with dozens of other people on a hilly area overlooking the tourist town to wait out the waves.
Surfers in California who raced to the beach to catch the waves were undeterred by the surges.
“The tides are right, the swell is good, the weather is good, the tsunami is there. We’re going out,” said William Hill, an off-duty California trooper.
Latin American governments ordered islanders and coastal residents to head for higher ground. Coastal officials from Mexico to Chile were hauling boats from the sea, closing ports and schools and preparing to evacuate thousands of people ahead of the tsunami’s expected arrival at 5 p.m. EST. Mexico closed the major Pacific cargo port of Manzanillo and several cargo ships and a cruise ship decided to wait out a possible tsunami at sea rather than risk possible damage in a harbor.
The Honolulu International Airport remained open but seven or eight jets bound for Hawaii turned around, including some originating from Japan, the state Department of Transportation said. All harbors were closed and vessels were ordered to leave the harbor.
About 70 percent of Hawaii’s 1.4 million population resides in Honolulu, and as many as 100,000 tourists are in the city on any given day.
A small 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Big Island just before 5 a.m. EST, but there were no reports of damages and the quake likely wasn’t related to the much larger one in Japan, the USGS said.
The worst big wave to strike the U.S. was a 1946 tsunami caused by a magnitude of 8.1 earthquake near Unimak Islands, Alaska, that killed 165 people, mostly in Hawaii. In 1960, a magnitude 9.5 earthquake in southern Chile caused a tsunami that killed at least 1,716 people, including 61 people in Hilo. It also destroyed most of that city’s downtown. On the U.S. mainland, a 1964 tsunami from a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, struck Washington State, Oregon and California. It killed 128 people, including 11 in Crescent City, Calif.
This story will be updated.
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sean96 on March 11 at 6:40 a.m.
Spokane Medias coverage of the Tsunami
***Breaking New***
Spokane has a special connection to Japan that we will be covering this lead all day. We have reporters waiting at the North side Panda Express, and as soon as it is open we will bring you an exclusive interview with the Asst. Manager and what the devastation in Japan might mean for his witness.
But first lets go live to out crew at the North Town Mustard Seed for…..
PhiltheBibliophil on March 11 at 6:53 a.m.
Joe Jones, you think you’re a pretty funny guy. But when the next BIG one hits the West Coast or more likely Seattle (long overdue), you might want to seriously think about stocking up on some food, water, guns and ammo right here in beautiful old Spokane. Thats old as in alot of Old Brick buildings!
sean96 on March 11 at 6:58 a.m.
Not worried, it is called the cascades, but I am sure you will be ok, as you probably have a lot left over from Y2K.
johnclarke on March 11 at 7:04 a.m.
Hey, we wanted a Pacific Science Center maybe it will show up on it’s own.
johnclarke on March 11 at 7:11 a.m.
Well crap, I just read hundreds have died in Japan and obviously my joke is tasteless.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on March 11 at 7:27 a.m.
What stupid comments from people during this tragedy. Come on people, us your damn brain and try being respectful for once.
Ninch on March 11 at 7:33 a.m.
These are jokes? Why, when massive earthquakes and tsunamis always bring death? But of course I see ethnocentricity being played out here… instead of universal humanity.
madscientist on March 11 at 7:34 a.m.
Duh Johnclarke. What do you think happens with 8.9 earthquakes? use some common sense. Hopefully no one personally effected by these events reads your tasteless comments.
mikeln on March 11 at 7:37 a.m.
How did your parents like the d’s and f’s you got in science, joe? No place is safe from earthquakes and mountains do little to protect us. Look to the east, yellowstone could produce earthquakes that would be felt here and a volcano that could make us extinct. Of course there are nuclear power plants in japan that could cause great damage if they are compromised.
johnclarke on March 11 at 7:49 a.m.
duhmadscientist, I apologized. Thanks for piling on for no reason, other than to make yourself feel superior.
Ninch on March 11 at 7:57 a.m.
Good experiential lesson jc to think critically before you hit submit. The more piling on the better you will remember. Just take your medicine now for future benefits.
force_vector on March 11 at 8:01 a.m.
Japan will need a lot of help after this. I hope our country does them right and provides the maximum assistance possible.
Ninch on March 11 at 8:06 a.m.
Good response, mikein. Yes, Joe needs to study up on Mt. Mazama and Mt. St. Helens (multiple events). Also he might have forgotten the 2001 Earthquake swarm in Spokane (30 recorded tremors within a week) and then there was a 5.5-magnitude temblor in 1942 which can cause significant damage, especially on the older brick buildings.
lewis8457 on March 11 at 8:09 a.m.
My step father is in Hawaii on business i hope he is on some high land
Ninch on March 11 at 8:09 a.m.
Our U.S. Navy stationed in Japan has ships (floating hospitals) are ready to help right now. I know Obama has called out FEMA to be prepared (oxymoron?) for Hawaii, but I do not know if there are orders for the Navy to go into action.
Ninch on March 11 at 8:14 a.m.
My son is attending university in Hawaii and luckily he is already on high ground. Hawaii has a very good tsunami warning system and my son has already posted on facebook, so my concerns are minimal.
Ryan Pitts on March 11 at 8:17 a.m.
I have a family member traveling in Japan right now, and another family member who lives in Hawaii. Thankfully, both are safe and unhurt.
With only 10-15 minutes of warning in Japan, there are an awful lot of families who weren’t so lucky. What a tragedy.
maria on March 11 at 8:27 a.m.
March 30, 1964
Oregon
— Depoe Bay
1. Ricky McKenzie, age 6 Tacoma, Washington
2. Louie McKenzie age 8 Tacoma, Washington
3. Bobby McKenzie age 7 Tacoma, Washington
4. Tammy McKenzie age 3 Tacoma, Washington
All of these children died in a tidal wave while on a camping trip to the ocean beaches in ‘64. The giant wave was caused by a large earthquake in Alaska.
They attended our church and were my playmates.
maria on March 11 at 8:33 a.m.
1964 “Tacoma Washington (AP)
Mrs. and Mrs, Monte G. McKenzie lost the oldest of their five children in the fire eight months ago. Friday night tidal waves from an Alaska earthquake left them childless.
The McKenzies were sleeping on the beach at a state park near Newport, Ore., when the giant waves hit.
In a telephone call to his pastor here, McKenzie said the first wave swept over the children and they began screaming. then a second wave hit.
When the wave receded the McKenzies found their four children had been swept to sea. The body of Ricky, 6, was recovered, Still missing were Louie, 8; Bobby, 7; and Tammy, 3.”
maria on March 11 at 8:37 a.m.
Suffice to say, I never ate Crab Louie after that.
maria on March 11 at 8:45 a.m.
An account of the McKenzie’s tragedy is in this book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=At2ThIYincsC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=mckenzie+children+AND+tidal+wave&source=bl&ots=prxDwnNYzv&sig=eci5X-wyF7d5oRU9laWeWlMrMkw&hl=en&ei=Y0l6TcK1DM70rAG-tdXVBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=mckenzie%20children%20AND%20tidal%20wave&f=false
mikeln on March 11 at 8:50 a.m.
Power out at the nuclear power plant, we all need to think a positive thought and hope the power is restored or this tragedy is going to grow beyond imagination.
hawken on March 11 at 9:18 a.m.
I will NOT pile on Clarke, as much as I would like.
BTW: My best friend lives in Hawaii on the beach. I have not yet heard back from him. I too am worried.
Diana on March 11 at 9:38 a.m.
With Japan sitting on the edge of the “Ring of Fire” tectonic plate boundary, there isn’t much land in Japan that isn’t in a fault zone. Brilliant idea to build a nuclear facility there. What could go wrong?
johnclarke on March 11 at 9:43 a.m.
and thank you Ninch for piling on, what with your perfect record of critical thinking and posting. I corrected myself, so stuff it.
mikeln on March 11 at 9:56 a.m.
I can only hope these folks fare better then our people did during katrina, where fema was pretty much absent and led by a guy with no experience at all, just part of the good old boys club.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 11 at 10:04 a.m.
Must be Global Warming……blame Bush Mike….
Prayers for the vicitms.
mikeln on March 11 at 10:49 a.m.
Daisy, I put the blame where it belongs, unlike the facists who blame people that have no control over what is going on. People have short memories and need to be reminded often that they are not the ones at fault, the fault lays on our bought and paid for elected officials, all of them, including obama.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on March 11 at 10:52 a.m.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sympathy
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/empathy
I think most of us feel these but we sure have a funny way of showing it….
Man, what a thing to have to go through. Fortunately Japan is a wealthy, developed country and has the resources & infrastructure (e.g. disaster response teams, humanitarian organizations) to deal with something like this. I have a few Japanese friends and mostly they have managed to get in touch with their families after a sleepless night of sitting at the computer while hitting “redial” on the phone.
We were lucky over here that the wave that reached WA/OR/CA wasn’t bigger.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 11 at 11:19 a.m.
Mike: Bush must have been the architect of global warming that surely caused this natural phenomenon. Surely Obama can fix this for the green liberals…he said it this morning. We always believe him don’t we Mike?
Lots of damage on this one but loss of life is a harder problem. Digging through rumbling and traveling “goo” isn’t a fun job.
hawken on March 11 at 11:37 a.m.
Just heard from my best friend in Hawaii via email. They had to evacuate their home last night. But they are fine.
I hope many others did as well.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 11 at 12:53 p.m.
http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/11/some-respond-to-japan-earthquake-by-pointing-to-global-warming/
lololol I knew this would come up. I mean what disaster ISN’T caused by Global warming!!??!?!
Loudin on March 11 at 1:17 p.m.
Daisy’s main concerns about the tsunami disaster, in order of priority:
1) Can I make a partisan joke about about it?
&
2) “Prayers for the victims.”
Only via the anonymity of the internet(s) would people act in such a boorish manner.
Loudin
misjustice on March 11 at 1:34 p.m.
Reports of up to 80,000 people are missing & hundreds dead. If that nuclear reactor explodes we will all be feeling the effects. Prayers for the people of Japan & all along the coast lines everywhere.
zelda on March 11 at 1:45 p.m.
I remember when the quake hit Kobe. A colleague was due to go on a trip there and after I told him about the quake he called the Kobe office. He reported to me that the Kobe people said that everything was fine there. All told there were about 6,500 deaths.
It’s unusual for the Japanese government to request disaster assistance from the U.S. government and other countries. Japan is a wealthy, highly industrialized country with many resources. They don’t like to admit vulnerabilities so this is a sign that they’re acknowledging the immensity of this catastrophe.
BTW, Kobe was considered one of the most earthquake-prepared cities in the world and the quake hit on International Earthquake Preparedness Day.
Keep in mind, too, that Tokyo is about the same distance from the epicenter of Friday’s quake as Spokane is from Seattle. If the big one ever hits Seattle, we could get substantial damage here. After all, we certainly felt the “Rattle in Seattle” 10 or so years ago. Our area isn’t seismically immune. The Challis, ID quake was another big shaker here. And then there was the swarm in Spokane a few years ago on an ancient faultline hardly anyone knew existed or thought it could be active.
johno on March 11 at 3:42 p.m.
Looks like there could be a nuclear meltdown in Japan. Could the SR find out if the prevailing winds mean the Northwest will catch any fallout? What about any emergency preparedness issues. Do we have a supply of Potassium Iodide handy in this area. Funny how this morning Japan told us everything was fine, now they report they’ve lost coolant to several reactors. Oh, and just not to panic everyone I went to the Atomic Energy Commission website and there pretty much isn’t any danger if you are over 200 miles away. But it would be nice if the local health authorities would look at this.
DemoDriver on March 11 at 4:38 p.m.
Good point on the potential fallout, given the only mainland American killed in WWII got it from a bomb carried by a balloon that the Japanese launched in the hopes of starting a cascade of forrest fires in the Pacific Northwest.
Thanks for reminding us of prevailing wind currents. I’m off to buy tuna, peanut butter, and spam now. :)
But one would think that the Japanese of all people would build a near bomb-proof reactor, given their firsthand knowledge of the devastating effects of heavy doses of radiation.
bartongrover on December 21 at 9:01 p.m.
Maria, if you’re still following this story, I am trying to find out what happened to the McKenzie family following their dual tragedies in 1963/1964. If you can help me that, I would love to hear from you: barton.howe@gmail.com