Coastal areas of California are clearly at the highest risk from tsunamis. But how far inland does the threat extend?
The answer may surprise you. Tsunami hazard areas can be quite large depending on the location and in some cases are home to large numbers of people.
Large areas of Venice and all of Marina del Rey are in a tsunami danger zone. The same goes for the vast area of Long Beach, including Belmont Shore, Naples Island and the city’s convention center.
Key areas of Orange County are also at risk. These include Newport Beach’s Balboa Island and Balboa Peninsula, as well as the communities of Sunset Beach and Seal Beach.
Even if the tsunami hazard zone is relatively narrow, many Californians may not have the instinct to head to higher ground after the ground shakes.
Malibu Village Mall is separated from the coast by two rows of homes, a golf course and the Pacific Coast Highway, but remains at risk due to its proximity not only to the ocean but also to the Malibu Lagoon.
And the risks may vary. Manhattan Beach’s tsunami hazard area is essentially limited to the beach and pier along the Strand, a walking and biking path that separates the sand from luxury homes. In Hermosa Beach, however, the tsunami hazard zone also covers expensive homes a block or so east of the trail.
Visiting SeaWorld San Diego? Theme parks are outside the danger zone, but some hotels and resorts in the west and north are not. Visiting the Ferry Building in San Francisco? No need to flee the city—just walk a few blocks inland to safety.
Not all tsunamis flood the entire danger zone. For example, if a tsunami is more than four hours away from arriving, officials may be able to issue fine-tuning orders that limit the scope of evacuation zones. But if a tsunami comes within a shorter period of time, authorities may decide to simply evacuate the entire area as a precautionary measure.
The California Geological Survey says tsunami hazard zones represent areas of maximum inundation under many extreme but realistic scenarios.
If you are uphill or inland from these areas, you should not be affected by the tsunami. That’s why officials say it’s important to know if you live, work or play in a hazardous area. Experts recommend knowing how to evacuate and where you need to go.
But officials say if you don’t know in advance whether you’re in a tsunami danger zone and don’t have a map or evacuation signs, go to a location 100 feet above sea level and two miles inland if possible.
Evacuation of certain areas may be particularly difficult in the event of an earthquake-induced tsunami due to location, density and traffic conditions.
“In some places on the West Coast of the United States, as well as in Alaska, if there were an inshore incident, the entire safety evacuation… would [have] The success rate is much lower. “That’s the number one reason people need to know the danger areas ahead of time.”
An example of an area that is difficult to evacuate is the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. But in Laguna Beach, advance knowledge of the tsunami hazard area showed it was relatively small and walking a few blocks could make a difference.
Tsunamis, although rare, can arrive minutes after the Earth shakes, depending on the location. Snyder said the tsunami warning issued last week after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake 30 miles off the coast of Humboldt County was a good reminder that such events are indeed concerning.
“You just experienced a major alarm — one that may never happen to you again,” Snyder said. “But if it did happen…ask yourself, did I get the alert when I needed it?”
Snyder said those who were ordered to leave during last week’s widespread warning should use the experience to evaluate whether their evacuation plans were effective and whether they need to be changed. Ideally, those living in high-risk areas should also have travel bags ready, he added.
The map below shows some of the most densely populated areas of southern and central California within tsunami hazard areas identified by the California Geological Survey. Yellow areas indicate tsunami hazard areas.
Downtown San Diego and Coronado
laguna beach
Tsunami hazard zone in Laguna Beach.
(California Geological Survey)
newport beach
Seal Beach and surrounding areas
long beach
Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach
The westernmost neighborhoods of Hermosa Beach and the Pier area of Redondo Beach are tsunami hazard areas.
(California Geological Survey)
Marina del Rey and Venice
Malibu
ventura county
santa barbara county
Santa Barbara County’s tsunami hazard area includes parts of the city of Carpinteria.
(California Geological Survey)
The tsunami danger zone includes the Stearns Landing area of Santa Barbara, a popular tourist destination.
(California Geological Survey)
San Luis Obispo County
Portions of Pismo Beach and Grover Beach in San Luis Obispo County are in a tsunami hazard zone.
(California Geological Survey)
Parts of Avila Beach are in a tsunami hazard zone.
(California Geological Survey)
Morro Bay and parts of the Cayucos are in the tsunami hazard zone.
(California Geological Survey)
