SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) and its partner agencies urge all Californians, particularly those who live by, work in or visit the state's coastal communities, to empower themselves during National Tsunami Preparedness Week, March 25-31, by learning about the tsunami threat in their community and taking steps to reduce their risk of death, injury and property damage.

"We're committed to working with our partner agencies and the community to reduce the potentially catastrophic impacts of tsunamis and other emergencies that threaten California," said Cal EMA Secretary Mark Ghilarducci. "The massive wave surges generated by last year's Tohoku earthquake and tsunami is a sobering reminder that even disasters thousands of miles away can affect dozens, if not hundreds or thousands, of lives here in California."

California officials noted that last year's tsunami that hit California's coast caused one death and tens of millions of dollars in damages to public and private facilities. "Images from the Tohoku Tsunami remind us that this hazard is ever-present, unforgiving, and a real threat to Californian's coastal communities," noted California Seismic Safety Commission Executive Director Richard McCarthy.

"Injuries and loss of life are a tragic reality in many disasters, but a lot can be done to prevent them from happening when a tsunami is generated. Knowing what to do when a tsunami occurs can literally mean the difference between life and death," said Ghilarducci. "It's important that Californians living or working near the coast or visiting know that ground shaking could be nature's tsunami warning and that they need to take action."

Steps you can take to protect yourself from tsunamis

Are you in a hazard zone? Visit the "My Hazards" Web page at www.myhazards.calema.ca.gov to find out if you live in a tsunami hazard zone.

Know what to do: Find the designated tsunami evacuation routes for your community and assemble a small evacuation kit that includes a flashlight, portable NOAA Weather Radio, water, snacks, important documents and other essentials – www.ready.gov .

Prepare a plan: All Californians should also determine where they and loved ones will reunite if they are separated.

Learn more about tsunamis: Tsunami maps, reports, Japanese Tsunami Effects to California, National Tsunami Preparedness Week links and details, as well as additional tips on tsunami preparedness are available at www.tsunami.ca.gov .

Join the Discussion Live on March 29th:  Cal EMA is conducting a live, one-hour Webcast on March 29, 2012 at 2:00pm (PST). They'll be live with experts discussing lessons learned from last year's Tohoku earthquake and tsunami; steps Californians can take to reduce their risk of death, injury and property losses from tsunamis, ocean debris generated by the tsunami and other issues of interest.

The Webcast will feature representatives from Cal EMA, the California Geological Survey (CGS) and the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA). You can send your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and they'll answer them live on the air.

"As Cal EMA's science partner, we encourage Californians to be prepared for the relatively rare but potentially devastating hazard that tsunamis represent," said Dr. John Parrish, State Geologist of California and head of CGS. "Government officials at all levels are researching and planning, but in many cases, surviving a disaster comes down to personal preparation."

Parrish noted that the www.tsunami.ca.gov Web page features the state's official tsunami inundation maps, information about the effects of the 2011 Japan tsunami on California and a new Cal EMA/CGS tsunami brochure designed with the boating community in mind.

To help commemorate National Tsunami Preparedness Week, Cal EMA has once again partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino and other agencies and organizations to test the tsunami warning communications system.  

The test, which will be conducted between 11a.m. and Noon on March 28 , features an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message with "live" tsunami event codes that will air over NOAA Weather Radios equipped with the Public Alert feature as well as participating radio and television stations serving the three participating counties.