Significant Pacific Ocean earthquake causes tsunami warnings across Oregon coastline

CANNON BEACH Ore. (KPTV) – A magnitude 7.0 earthquake off the Northern California coast caused a Tsunami warning in parts of Oregon Thursday.

The event, which occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. was the strongest in the area since a 7.2 quake struck in almost the same spot near Eureka in 2005.

From Florence to Coos Bay, several coastal cities were put on alert for parts of the morning and afternoon before those were lifted later in the day.

The Oregon Department of Emergency Services and Parks and Recreation teams were hard at work, informing the public of any necessary updates and closing access to state park beaches up and down the shoreline until 3 p.m.

“Really lucky today, the earthquake was a 7.0, it was very close to the shore,” said Althea Rizzo, Geologic Hazards Program Coordinator with the ODEM. “If you feel the ground shake on the coast that is your warning, you’re not going to get a tsunami warning. That’s why it’s very important when people visit the coast, they understand this is an area where something can happen very suddenly.”

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While many this far North couldn’t see the direct impact, the day served as an important reminder of the unpredictable nature of the dangerous waves that can result and to always be prepared.

“I guess I was a little concerned naturally,” said Pablo Gonzalez, who brought his family to Tolovana Beach later in the day. “I’m always ready if I need to pack up and jump in the car and leave.”

“My family has a kit, water, firewood, so we’re prepared but it’s little scary because we’re so close,” said beachgoer Faith Ortiz.

Whether it’s preparing an emergency kit or knowing when to get to higher ground, the ODEM team says now is as good a time as ever to refresh your memory on what to do in case a Tsunami hits.

“The first thing to know about Tsunamis is, we don’t know when they’re going to happen, they’re not like hurricanes or a fire season,” said Rizzo. “They can literally happen at any time at 10:45 a.m. this morning and the important thing to know for these events is to be prepared. It can be little things; it doesn’t mean it has to be big or scary.”

For more information on preparing for potential tsunamis, you can visit ODEM’s Be 2 Weeks Ready Program here.

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