New tsunami hazard maps highlight threat facing seven California counties — even Napa and Sonoma
State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon created a new U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) map Wednesday, but it’s one that could be useful for anyone who owns property in the seven counties affected when a disaster strikes.
The map shows areas that are at the highest risk for a tsunami, according to a release from the California Department of Geology.
Nielsen-Gammon, who was on a trip to Indonesia and Sri Lanka at the time of the release, did not provide the names of the areas that could be affected by a tsunami caused by an earthquake.
The agency said in a news release that the map is meant to help residents with the decision to evacuate.
“The California Department of Geology worked with NOAA and its partners to create the first-ever National Coastal and Oceanic map to be disseminated to coastal residents in Hawaii, Alaska, California, and Hawaii,” said a release from the agency Wednesday morning.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Central Pacific Tsunami Warning Center will use the map to educate local emergency responders.
“California is ready for the tsunami disaster with our state-of-the-art weather and meteorological services, coastal defense, emergency management and civil defense infrastructure, and resilient communities,” said state officials in a prepared statement.
“We will continue to work closely with our federal partners to help ensure that Californians have the resources and information necessary to prepare for and recover from the impacts of a tsunami,” said the state’s top disaster official, David Smith.
State emergency officials said they have been preparing to help if an earthquake strikes.
“To prevent deaths and injuries, we recommend that everyone stay indoors while a major earthquake shakes the region,” said Smith.
The map is not only for coastal residents. It’s also available to residents in Hawaii, Alaska, California and Honolulu.
“This is another exciting map to be able to share with our coastal partners throughout the region that we are a country of islands,” said Smith.
The map is part of NOAA’s tsunami program’s release of