North coast of Calif. riding out threat of tsunami
By Bill Lindelof and Tony Bizjak, Sacramento Bee
Some minor effects from a possible tsunami have been reported along the California coast this morning, although thousands were evacuated from a handful of coastal counties as a precaution.
Ocean swells have begun to rise quickly in the last hour in some coastal areas, with Crescent City a hot spot, officials with the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center report at 8:30 a.m.
Crescent City harbor is seeing a three-foot sea level rise in the last hour, according to Cindi Preller, tsunami program manager at the center in Alaska.
“Our modeling still says it can go up to seven feet,” Preller said.
That may not cause major problems, she said. “We have seen tsunamis there that do stay in the harbor.”
Monterey and Arena Cove areas have seen a 2.5-foot sea level rise in the last hour, she said. But Preller said San Francisco “shouldn’t see a whole lot of action.”
Brad Alexander of the state Emergency Management Agency operations center said the California coast will experience rising water over a several-hour period this morning, but no huge waves.
My brother-in-law is in Tokoyo. He was in a meeting outside of the town when the earthquake hit. They got in a car and was driving to the airport when the first Tsunami hit. He reports seeing car being swept off a bridge. Oned they got to the airport, they were evacuated to the basement due to flying glass. He say there is no food or water and the area he is in is very crowded. His cell phone is not working but he is texting.
My thought and prayers are with all whom are effected.