Maui County, HI - Official Website

Emergency Notifications

Posted on: March 11, 2011

Tsunami Notification 06 - TSUNAMI WARNING

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at Ewa Beach has continued the TSUNAMI WARNING for the Hawaiian Islands.

A tsunami warning means that a significant earthquake has occurred. Tsunami approach confirmed.

EFFECTS: An earthquake has occurred at 7:46 p.m. HST on March 10, 2011 near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. The magnitude has been upgraded to an 8.9 moment measurement. Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami has been generated that could cause widespread damage. Estimated earliest arrival time in Hawaii has been revised to 3:07 a.m. HST Friday March 11, 2011. The arrival time of the first wave at Kahului Harbor will be 3:23 a.m. HST. The estimated height of the wave at Kahului Harbor is 6.5 feet.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: Persons in low-lying areas should begin emergency preparations. Please refer to the front yellow section of the telephone book for preparedness information and evacuation areas. Prepare your “Go Kit” if you need to evacuate to higher ground. Be prepared to evacuate when advised/ordered by Civil Defense.

A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii. Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property.

A tsunami is a series of long ocean waves. Each individual wave crest can last 5 to 15 minutes or more and extensively flood coastal areas. The danger can continue for many hours after the initial wave as subsequent waves arrive. Tsunami wave heights cannot be predicted and the first wave may not be the largest. Tsunami waves efficiently wrap around islands. All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face. The trough of a tsunami wave may temporarily expose the seafloor but the area will quickly flood again. Extremely strong and unusual near shore currents can accompany a tsunami. Debris picked up and carried by a tsunami amplifies its destructive power. Simultaneous high tides or high surf can significantly increase the tsunami hazard.

INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather broadcasts can be reached by calling 1 866 944-5025. The Tsunami Warning Center web page can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc.

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Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov.

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