Tsunami

If a tsunami Warning, Advisory, or Watch is issued for your area, listen to your local media and follow the instructions of local emergency officials.

In the Event of an Immediate Tsunami Threat:

• Move to higher ground, and go on foot if possible.
• Follow the instructions of all emergency officials for your safety and the safety of those around you.
• In the first 24 hours, use the telephone only to report life threatening emergencies.
• Do not go to the beach to watch.
• Stay tuned to local radio, TV and trusted social media sources for updates

All areas of the coastline will not be impacted equally. Within very short distances, the effects of a tsunami may vary considerably and there could be dramatic differences in wave height and impact.

Local emergency programs have pre-identified safe areas that you should be aware of, and you can find out if you are in a hazard area by checking with your local emergency program. Stay tuned to your radio and other media for updates.

• alert the public that widespread, dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents is possible and may continue for several hours
• alert emergency management officials to take actions like the evacuation of low-lying coastal areas, and the repositioning of ships to deep waters when there is time to safely do so
• may be updated, adjusted geographically, downgraded, or cancelled
• are initially normally based only on seismic information to provide the earliest possible alert

This is issued to alert emergency management officials and the public of an event which may later impact the watch area. Watches:

• May be upgraded to a warning or cancelled based on updated information and analysis.
• Indicate emergency management officials and the public should prepare to take action.
• Are normally issued based on seismic information without confirmation that a destructive tsunami is underway.

This is issued due to the threat of a potential tsunami which may produce strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or near the water. Coastal regions historically prone to damage due to strong currents induced by tsunamis are at the greatest risk. Advisories:

• may continue for several hours after the arrival of the initial wave, but significant widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory
• may result in local officials closing beaches, evacuating harbours and marinas, and the repositioning of ships to deep waters when there is time to safely do so
• are normally updated to continue the advisory, expand/contract advisory areas, upgrade to a warning, or cancel the advisory

Know where you and your family will evacuate to in the event of a tsunami.

• Have a family emergency plan and emergency kits.
• If you are in school and you hear there is a tsunami warning, you should follow the advice of teachers and other school personnel.
• If you are at home and hear there is a tsunami warning, you should make sure your entire family is aware of the warning. Your family should evacuate your house if you live in a tsunami evacuation zone. Move in an orderly, calm and safe manner to the evacuation site or to any safe place outside your evacuation zone. Follow the advice of local emergency and law enforcement authorities.
• If you are at the beach or near the ocean and you feel the earth shake, move immediately to higher ground. DO NOT wait for a tsunami warning to be announced. Stay away from rivers and streams that lead to the ocean as you would stay away from the beach and ocean if there is a tsunami. A tsunami from a local earthquake could strike some areas before a tsunami warning could be announced.
• Tsunamis generated in distant locations will generally give people enough time to move to higher ground. For locally-generated tsunamis, where you might feel the ground shake, you may only have a few minutes to move to higher ground.

Boats in Deep Water

If you are in deep water (at least 200 fathoms or 400 metres) when a tsunami warning is issued, stay there. Tsunami waves are small in deep water and probably won’t cause any damage. Stay tuned to your marine radio (Channel 16) for reports when it is safe to return to port.

Boats in Harbour

If you are still in the harbour when a tsunami warning is issued, you may have time to get to deep water. Listen to official estimated tsunami wave arrival times and plan safely. Do not motor your boat to open water if it is too close to the wave arrival time.

Moored Boats

If there is a local tsunami and you are moored in a harbour, abandon your boat immediately. Head for high ground.

Floatplanes

If you are in a floatplane in a harbour, take off as soon as possible. Land safely on a lake or another area not at risk.

Additional information for boaters can be found here.