A good day to stay away from the Pacific beaches

[Xairbusdriver]

Tsunami warnings are out. Be careful!

[kimmer]

I'm most concerned for Al; but also Sneakers is up on the river fishing and he's unaware of the Tsunami warning for our area. The sirens haven't gone off, nor do we have a local radio station working any longer - and it was the emergency station! Nothing on any local news sites either. If it wasn't for a weather guy who has a facebook page, and you comment here -- I wouldn't know.

[Paddy]

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/index.html

This just got updated a few minutes ago - nothing huge, but enough that you wouldn't want to be standing in the water, on the beach, or on a dock that doesn't have much clearance! Damage to navigation buoys has been reported.

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/message.txt

Looks like it will be less pronounced in Oregon, Kimmer.

Images from Chile: http://www.csmonitor.com/CSM-Photo-Galleri...le-s-earthquake

Hawaii has evacuated coastal areas: http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Chile_Earthquake/...tory?id=9965721

I don't think Al lives right on the water - I had the impression (from pictures, I think) that he lives well above the water. Dick would know, since he's visited him.

[Xairbusdriver]

I think Oregon and Washington should be fairly safe considering their position relative to the origination point. That said, here is a link to the <NOAA Tsunami Warning Center>. I would also suggest you call the county Emergency Services or the Sheriff's departments to ascertain their knowledge and any precautions they are aware of. Perhaps none of them have a TV? Mostly likely, the sirens are silent because there is no warning for your area. Never hurts to ask, of course. I'd stay away form the beach today, anyway... There could be a scared Orca nearby that would jump out and grab you pony tail!

er, uhmn...something deleted the link that I'm sure I put in here before hitting "Post!"

[Xairbusdriver]

I saw Al visiting here a few minutes ago, e=sent him a PM but unless he refreshed the site, he probably didn't get a notification. At least he's probably at home and I think that is way above sea level, Richard can probably tell us about that.

[Xairbusdriver]

The Warning has been lifted and the waves have long since passed Hawaii. Apparently they were about 6 feet high in most places there.

[kimmer]

Thanks for the links. Sneakers got home okay and he and his buddy never noticed the rise in the water levels. They were too busy hauling in all the fish they caught.

We have seen a slight rise in the tides (I walked over to watch from the hill), and it looks impressive wave wise; and the tourists are -- on the beaches watching!!!!!!!!!!!

Our watch/warning is in effect until around midnight.

[krissel]

Hard to believe with that much damage that the death toll isn't much higher. Let's hope it doesn't match Haiti's.

Last Sunday I was awakened by a small earthquake in my area that shook my bed. At first I though the massage feature in the bed had malfunctioned but soon realized it was a bit more extensive. No damage or injuries locally but a little unsettling (no pun intended).  That's the third one I've felt here in Jersey. Fortunately they all have been minor compared to what has hit other parts of the country and world.

Guess I shouldn't complain about the repeated snowstorms...

[sandbox]

The demographics of Chile is a lot different, the Quake, though larger, was a different type, it didn't slip through a major Metro area, it uplifted offshore. Far stronger 8x in magnitude. Had this quake hit Haiti the would have split the island in two.

If you have been watching the quakes throughout the area for the past year, the Continental plate and the pacific plate have been very active, in a chain reaction ....a slip here causes a bulge there and it moves from place to place.

I suspect that the bulge on the west coast could be felt on the east coast because there is a jerking motion rather than a slipping sensation. If you really want a treat be in the space needle in Seattle when a tremor hits, boy is that a rush!!

I don't suspect the death toll will approach near the numbers of Haiti, the building are more secure, many more new ones. A higher educational level and far more resources to address the victims straight away. Chile is a very diverse county, a large population from europe over the last 70 years has made it a resort destination as well as a production center and shipping hub. I would imagine, given the epicenter of the quake that the coastal development and ports are damaged. It could require a huge expense to restore the ports and economic engine.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Last Sunday I was awakened by a small earthquake in my area that shook my bed.

Are you sure that wasn't just the snow sliding off the roof?! BTW, do you have to use quarters in that bed?

Chile has some of the best building standards in the world and they've had the ability to put them in place better than most countries. Of course, not being a fourth world country helps. There are so many variable involved in any earth quake it is impossible to predict damage simply by using the Richter scale, which is actually an older, superseded measuring method. But it makes for easier headlines and sound bytes.

[RHPConsult]

Richard's opinion (after 400+ trips to the Sandwich Isles over 3 decades)

1. Al's views will be far better than any breathless Newsbabe's sitting in NYC
2. When you visit Hawaii, you find that the State's telephone directories have pages of information re: likely danger zones, appropriate actions to take when particular sirens are heard

I hope Al comes on to report on much ado about "very little". His house, on the slope of KoKo Head (think Hanauma Bay) is about 2000 ft. from the nearest ocean beach.

The real "locals" drive out to the beaches on the N and W sides of Oahu when 35-50 ft. surf is expected during the winter months. Some of them even take their surf boards! That's predictable, however.

I heard one "serious" report aired on TV yesterdy, in which an Iowa tourist observed to an interviewer that he certainly hoped the airport would be open by next Wednesday when he expected to exit the Isles. Hello?

For the folks on the actual scene, 'tis better to be sale than sorry, however. The "Pacific" at less than its best can be nothing to fool with.

This household is awaiting some word from a nephew who works out of the US Embassy in Santiago.

[attachment=1791:2009_05_..._embassy.jpg]

This is the neighborhood: palm trees, high rises and snow capped mpuntains.

Nothing yet on what that the experience was like on the scene . . . 1000 times (mol) stronger than Haiti, from the USGS data. Chile, fortunately, is a nation far better prepared (populace, government, experience) for such disasters than Haiti.

Wish them all well and don't aspire to sample the experience. When the very ground you stand on begins to shake violently, it brings about a quick reorientation of . . . uhmm . . . priorities. Been there, done that!

[Al]

Hi Y'all.

Thanks for thinking of me!  

All is good here, praise God.

At the most we had serious tidal shifts of about 3 feet.  3 feet up and 3 feet down, so, yeah, about a 6 foot shift.

Richard, it was real tense here for a while, so, I don't have any live photos.  Stayed my butt put and didn't go out chasing high waters, LOL!

Here's some links

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story....dia_id=11042259

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/global/Catego...;autoStart=true

This bridge that this guy is taking these photos is where my daughter and I frequently go fishing, it is less than a half mile from where I live.  Water goes in and out with the tide, but, NEVER LIKE THIS!    

[attachment=1792:Screen_s...35.15_AM.jpg]
[attachment=1793:Screen_s...35.37_AM.jpg]
[attachment=1794:Screen_s...36.36_AM.jpg]

[RHPConsult]

That does, indeed, look like "a lot of water under the bridge", Al.

[krissel]

Gee Al, from the look of those pics at the first link, I imagine all the food and gas on the island was sold out.  

Glad it wasn't more than a tidal surge. All those hotels and homes on the waterfront are a recipe for disaster but at least a good warning would keep down the casualties.

Still I kept imagining the warm air, water and sunshine...
 

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Feb 28 2010, 08:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you sure that wasn't just the snow sliding off the roof?! BTW, do you have to use quarters in that bed?

I did consider the possibility of snow falling from the pine trees but they had already shed their accumulation a couple days earlier.

No quarters.  I have an adjustable bed (for my bad back) and it has built-in massage for varying sections of the bed with multiple speeds and vibration patterns. Really love it.

[daryl66]

QUOTE(RHPConsult @ Feb 28 2010, 12:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When you visit Hawaii, you find that the State's telephone directories have pages of information re: likely danger zones, appropriate actions to take when particular sirens are heard

Just happened to be on the 7th day of a 9 day hiatus in the town of Kailua on Oahu (windward side) when the Sirens  went off at 6am. (and every hour on the hour thereafter) anticipated tsunami arrival 11am (approx) The entire town was shut down, and all roads that lead to the beach areas were closed off. Hawaiian tv showed all of the vantage points (hiway's) etc lined with folks waiting and watching. The surge amounted to "barely negligible". The TV hype was very similar to what we see on network tv when there is a hurricane brewing. Continuous and repetitive with lots of face time for the "newscasters".

A far larger disaster for us was the fact the our computer bag was stolen on the 3rd day there along with "Her" purse.  GONZO, Powerbook, Itouch, passports, cell fone, etc, etc. Lots of damage control being delt with as we speak.

Daryl