Tsunami Alerts Trigger Coastal Vigil as Distant Earthquake Rattles Pacific
A massive earthquake in Russia sent tsunami alerts rippling across the Pacific Ocean, upending the routines of coastal residents from Southern California to Hawaii. While the threat of significant waves appeared lower for much of the West Coast, communities braced for potential impacts as warnings prompted a mix of concern, complacency, and even curiosity among beachgoers and locals.
Initial Warnings and Projected Impacts
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and advisories across a wide swath of the Pacific. Initial projections indicated that Hawaii would likely experience the first waves, followed by the California coast. Authorities anticipated modest waves in Southern California, but cautioned that far-northern California could see larger swells.
Southern California: A Mix of Awareness and Apathy
At Dockweiler State Beach, the advisory caught some visitors by surprise. Two Australian tourists, Aaron Travis and Maris Vellavura, enjoying the final days of a work trip, expressed mild surprise but little worry. “It would have been nice to know about it,” Travis said, laughing. “It isn’t too bad really. Like, you never know how big they’re going to be, whether it’s a fail or not.”
Nearby, a Playa Vista resident, Connor Cunningham, admitted to regretting leaving his phone at home after learning of the alert. He pondered his level of preparedness, noting, “Like, do I even have a plan? Like, what if this happened? Playa Vista is a little bit low. If I was up the hills, I wouldn’t really be thinking about it, but like, maybe I should plan.”
The lack of widespread concern was also evident among a group of beachgoers. Siblings Bianca and Josue Mendez, along with their friend Miguel Silva, were disappointed the advisory might disrupt their plans. Bianca revealed she even consulted AI to assess the risk, asking, “is it OK to go to the beach?” Josue observed, “I don’t think it’s stopping anyone.”
Further south in Redondo Beach, Manny Jimenez, a bar manager at Old Tony’s – a classic pier-side establishment since 1952 – remained unfazed. Having worked at the location for 42 years, he stated he’d never witnessed a tsunami damaging businesses on the pier, despite experiencing waves up to 20 feet high. “Anything can happen. You never know. It’s Mother Nature,” he said, confidently adding, “But I’m confident we’ll be fine.”
Northern California: Familiarity Breeds Calm
In Crescent City, a Northern California harbor town accustomed to tsunami alerts, the atmosphere was remarkably calm. Patrons at Port O’Pints Brewing Co. continued their evening routines, watching baseball and a sitcom rather than news coverage. “People really don’t start doing much until you hear the sirens,” explained bartender Jacob Swift, a Crescent City native. “Right now, most people are just hanging out, waiting to see if it progresses. And if it progresses, you gotta go, go go.”
When the advisory was upgraded to a warning, the reaction remained subdued. “We get these fairly often. Often enough to where nobody’s really panicking right now,” Swift added. The bar’s owner, John Kirk, who also works as the county’s only OB-GYN, noted the establishment was technically in a flood zone but remained optimistic. “If the water starts rolling up on us, well, somebody will probably run,” he said dryly.
Long Beach: Uncertainty and Haunted Ships
The approaching tsunami was a topic of conversation outside the Queen Mary in Long Beach. One individual warned friends, “You got three hours until the tsunami hits,” prompting a response of, “We better get out of here then.” Nearby, a group of young adults, Madison Aguilera, Azalia Ortiz, and Omar Mora, decided to continue their visit despite the alert, believing the impact in Southern California would be minimal. Aguilera explained, “My mom was saying, ‘Why are you going over there?’ I didn’t think it would affect us.” They were particularly interested in exploring the ship, known for its ghostly legends.
Another Long Beach visitor, Gloria Rodriguez, was checking on family in San Francisco, reassured by the widespread news coverage. While concerned, she didn’t anticipate a significant impact in Long Beach, stating, “It’s only going to be a foot.”
Hawaii: Echoes of Past Trauma
In Hawaii, the tsunami alert stirred particularly raw emotions. Nearly two years after the devastating wildfires that decimated Lahaina, residents once again found themselves preparing for a natural disaster. “Right now, we’re traumatized,” said Dominga Advincula, a longtime resident. “Every hour, they make the sound of sirens for everybody to leave the ocean and it makes us traumatized again for what happened in 2023.”
Advincula, whose home survived the 2023 fire, expressed cautious optimism, hoping the heightened awareness would prevent a repeat of the past. “Hopefully, nothing will happen because everyone is aware this time,” she said, adding, “And its broad daylight.” The experience served as a stark reminder of the ever-present vulnerability of coastal communities to the forces of nature.
