Why Talk About Tsunamis

Twenty-four tsunamis have caused damage in the United States and its territories during the last 204 years. Just since 1946, six tsunamis have killed more than 350 people and caused a half billion dollars of property damage in Hawaii, Alaska, and the West Coast. As a tsunami nears the coastline, it may rise to several feet or, in rare cases, tens of feet, and can cause great loss of life and property damage when it comes ashore. Tsunamis can travel upstream in coastal estuaries and rivers, with damaging waves extending farther inland than the immediate coast. A tsunami can occur during any season of the year and at any time, day or night.

What to Do If You Feel a Strong Coastal Earthquake

If you feel an earthquake that lasts 20 seconds or longer when you are on the coast:

• Drop, cover, and hold on. You should first protect yourself from the earthquake.
• When the shaking stops, gather your family members and evacuate quickly. Leave everything else behind. A tsunami may be coming within minutes. Move quickly to higher ground away from the coast.
• Be careful to avoid downed power lines and stay away from buildings and bridges from which heavy objects might fall during an aftershock

Lincoln City Tsunami Evacuation Maps

• North Lincoln City Tsunami Emergency Evacuation Map
• South Lincoln City Tsunami Emergency Evacuation Map

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Tsunami Information