Tsunamis - Near Source vs Distanct Source

Name: Tsunamis - Near Source vs Distanct Source
Start: 2025-09-18T17:30:00-07:00
End: 2025-09-18T20:30:00-07:00
Location: 5845 Humboldt Hill Rd, Eureka, CA, United States, California 95503

Schedule

Thu Sep 18 2025 at 05:30 pm to 08:30 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

5845 Humboldt Hill Rd, Eureka, CA, United States, California 95503 | Eureka, CA

Twice in the last 10 months the North Coast was placed within a Tsunami Warning. The highest level of alerts by the National Tsunami Warning Center.
On December 5, 2024 an earthquake with M7.0 struck on the Mendocino Fault. At a M7.0, a Tsunami Alert would not have been issued. However, the initial magnitude was estimated as a M7.4 which may have been a triggering event. Because of the nearness of this earthquake to the coast Tsunami Warnings were issued.
After review, the Earthquake was downgraded to a M7.0. However, alerts were already issued, up and down the coast, and evacuations and traffic congestion resulted. It was more than an hour before the Tsunami Warning was downgraded to a Watch.
On July 29th, 2025, an earthquake of M8.8 occurred on the west side of the Pacific Ocean. For the second time in 10 months the North Coast was again put into a Tsunami Warning by the National Tsunami Warning Center.
Initially, the Tsunami Alert was a Watch, which eventually, as time went on, was upgraded to an Advisory. At 8:27 pm the Tsunami Alert was upgraded to Warning. Additionally, a WEA (Wireless Emergency Alert) alert was issued.
Since the earthquake first struck, our local Office of Emergency Services (OES) were working in concert with other local and State responders. Our local responders can alert micro areas, managing the hazards to residents of the North Coast.
However, once the WEA went out, informing large populations that they were in Danger, our local responder's jobs got more difficult.
So, let's talk. What went right, what went wrong? What lessons were learned. Meet the scientists and responders and get a behind-the-scenes look at Tsunami Response on the North Coast.
Free and open to the public.