foodconsumer.org: Tsunami warning for Hawaii: What you need to know

Tsunami warning for Hawaii: What you need to know
================================================================================
admin on 02/27/2010 17:47:00
 
Some readers have heard/reported that the tsunami triggered by the Chile 8.8
magnitude earthquake is hitting Hawaii now.  Below is the warning and some
advice on what people can do to deal with a Tsunami.
The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 70 people in Chile will cause
a tsunami expected to hit the state of Hawaii at 11:05 AM HST SAT 27 FEB 2010,
according to The NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
In a warning bulletin, the agency says that the tsunami could cause damage along
coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii and urgent measures need to be
taken to protect lives and property.
Tsunami is a series of long ocean waves that occur after an undersea
disturbance, such as an earthquake or volcano eruption. The waves can last 15 to
20 minutes and affect the area of disturbance from all directions.
The waves can travel as fast as 450 miles per hour. As the big waves approach
shallow waters along the coast they can grow to up to 100 feet in height and
causes a lot of destruction.
Hawaii is the state at greatest risk for a tsunami historically. It gets about
one a year, with a tsunami big enough to cause damage about every seven years.
In 1946, the state suffered a tsunami with waves of 20 to 32 feet which crashed
into Hilo, Hawaii, flooding the downtown area.
The Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu, Hawaii is responsible for monitoring any
possible tsunami that is approaching the state.
Check out the tsunami evacuation zone here.
Tsunamis are sersmic ocean waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an
earthquake, landslike, volcanic eruption or meteorite.  A tsunami can move at a
speed of hundreds of miles per hour and smash into land with waves as high as
100 feet or higher.
In the United States, the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and
Hawaii are at risk of tusnamis.  Luckily tsunamis are common.
Below is some advice on how to heed the tsunami Warning Hawaii
What to do before and during a tsunami:
Turn on your radio and listen to the warning or report on the event.
Move inland to higher ground immediate and stay there until after the tsunami is
gone.
Stay away from the beach.
Pay attention to some sign that indicates a tsunami is coming.  If you notice a
recession in water away from the shoreline, this means, the tsunami is getting
close to the shoreline and run away from the coastline toward inland looking for
high ground.
What to do after a tsunami:
Stay away from flooded and damaged areas until officials tell you it is safe to
return.
Stay away from debris in the water, which can hurt people.
Save yourself - not your possessions.
By Jimmy Downs