San Mateo County leaders work to higher put together for tsunamis

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (KRON) – It’s been two weeks since a tsunami alert was triggered from a 7.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Humboldt County. Whereas it was canceled in about an hour, it did spotlight which communities weren’t ready. 

Leaders in San Mateo County have been holding conferences with residents to find out about methods they will higher talk throughout a tsunami. 

A gathering was held Thursday at Mavericks Home, which was stuffed with coastal residents wanting solutions from county leaders about what’s being completed to higher put together for a tsunami. Many referred to as the alert a significant stress check for the county.”

“It was completely chaotic. We have been strolling our canine on the seaside when our telephone went off with an alert for a tsunami,” one resident mentioned. 

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Whereas the alert was not in impact for lengthy, the injury was completed, with 1000’s of individuals attempting to evacuate.

“What that resulted in was individuals getting on Freeway 1. Individuals have been leaving locations that have been protected and going to locations that have been unsafe,” mentioned San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller. 

Many say this reveals the county shouldn’t be ready.

“Lots of people within the low-lying areas acquired on Freeway 1 and went south to go over 92. If it was an actual tsunami it could have been disastrous,” one resident mentioned. 

County leaders agree. That’s why they’ve been holding a number of group conferences to deal with issues and clarify communication and preparedness enhancements. Thursday evening’s assembly was the eighth previously two weeks. 

Certainly one of many questions requested – Why didn’t the tsunami siren hold forth? Mueller mentioned authorities held off on sounding it as a result of they did not wish to trigger panic. 

However individuals on the assembly mentioned they panicked the second they acquired the alert as a result of they didn’t know in the event that they have been in an evacuation zone or not. Now, the county is engaged on making that clear by creating zone maps on a brand new web site.

“The thought is to obviously make it into easy language quite than saying one thing like ‘low-lying’ the place individuals do not know what meaning. So giving extra clear path,” mentioned Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar, the director of San Mateo County’s Division of Emergency Administration. 

Subsequent 12 months, the county plans to proceed its work with schooling. The brand new web site and app ought to be launched quickly. The county plans to carry drills as effectively.