Although tsunamis are rare in California, the entire coastline is at risk. Whether living or visiting near the coast, it is important to know what to do in advance, during, and after a tsunami event.
To ensure proper preparedness, Cal OES, along with the California Geological Survey, recently updated Tsunami Hazard Area Maps in 13 different counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Monterey, Orange, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara and Santa Clara.
These maps indicate how far inland a water surge could expand in a worst-case scenario, as well as detailing specific evacuation routes to higher ground.
Maps are prepared to assist cities and counties in identifying tsunami hazards for response planning and represent areas that could be exposed to tsunami hazards during a tsunami event.
Cal OES MyHazards Tool
Learn more about the risk of tsunamis and other natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, and how to reduce risks at MyHazards, a tool provided by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
MyShake Tsunami Feature
Launched in 2019, MyShake, which is also available in Spanish, was the first app to provide statewide earthquake early warning alerts for earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater. The amount of advance notice received varies depending on the proximity to the epicenter.
In 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom announced new functionality within the MyShake app to better serve Californians and keep surrounding communities safe. Among those new features, tsunami safety information was added to the Safety Pages to remind people near the coast what steps they can take before, during, and after an earthquake to protect them from tsunamis.
To download MyShake and to learn more about earthquake and tsunami preparedness, visit earthquake.ca.gov.
Tsunami Preparedness
A collection of tsunami preparedness materials specific to California is listed below: