Are YOU Ready? It's Tsunami Preparedness Week in Marin County

The following is a news release from the County of Marin: 

Marin County’s coastline, its proximity to other coastal areas with offshore earthquake faults, and its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” make it vulnerable to unusually large sea waves, or tsunamis. Underwater earthquakes and landslides can cause a tsunami at any time and with little warning. California has been struck by more than two dozen tsunamis in the past 200 years, including 15 events that caused damage.

The Marin County Office of Emergency Services (OES), a division of the Marin County Sheriff-Coroner, plans to raise public awareness conducting several special events. The Muir Beach Fire Department and partner agencies will stage a community walk-out drill Thursday, March 27, to simulate a response to an imminent tsunami threat. Residents in the coastal community will receive emergency alerts and familiarize themselves with their tsunami evacuation route.

Also, the Sheriff’s Air Patrol and Civil Air Patrol will team up on Thursday, March 27, to conduct flyover testing above coastal and inland areas to test surveillance and warning capabilities. At the Marin County Civic Center, OES is conducting a training exercise for government agency emergency operations center staff and some non-governmental agency partners who would be called to coordinate resources in the event of a tsunami.

OES urges Marin residents in coastal and inland bay communities to:

• Know the warning signs of a tsunami
• Find out whether you live, work or recreate in a tsunami hazard zone
• Be prepared – have an evacuation plan for your household
• Plan a tsunami evacuation drill at your home or workplace
• Understand how official tsunami emergency information is disseminated
• Consider joining an emergency response group in your area
• Sign up to receive texted or emailed emergency alerts on your cell phone at http://www.alertmarin.org.

There is much more information available online about Tsunami Preparedness Week. Go to www.readymarin.org for more about local emergency preparedness. For more information, contact the Marin OES at 415-473-6584 or oes@marinsheriff.org.