Tsunami Report from Catalina Island, California

[cbayer]

This was much, much worse than we anticipated and I have a whole new concept of the force of this.

What we experienced here was just a baby compared to what has happened elsewhere, but the power of the water was stunning.

It started out slowly, with what looked like rapid tidal currents - about 2 -3 feet in and 2- 3 feet out over the course of 5 minutes of so. Interesting but not at all worrisome.

Then it grew... and grew... and grew.

At the peak, we had currents coming in and out of the harbor at about 10 knots or more (my best guess). They created huge whirlpools and raging waters like you would see when whitewater rafting.

First the main dock went out, taking all the skiffs and dinghies with it. A large barge, which was partially beach for repairs came loose. Then the second dock went, torn from it's attachment to both land and moorings.

Boats began to drag moorings and come completely around 180 degrees, first one direction then the other. Some boats came completely loose and were hitting other boats. A houseboat moored in front of us was careening through the water while we swung wildly, dragging our stern mooring. We hit and sustained damage but no injury.

All the while, the good people who work Harbor Patrol here were out trying to secure everything in a harbor that is out of control and full of debris. My hat is off to them, once again. They are heroes.

It looks like it has ended, but I will never again underestimate a tsunami alert. I can only imagine the absolute horror of this kind of event at 10 times the scale or more.

My hearfelt sympathy to all the people of Japan than endured, survived or lost this battle with the sea.

For those interested, this event took place in Cat Harbor on the south side of the island. We are exhausted, but safe.

[katty]

1. wow, and santa cruz harbor got hit

[Cleita]

2. Wow! What an experience!

Happy that you are all safe. Catalina Island is a special place. DH and I used to try to escape to there any chance we got when we lived in LA.

[Thunderstruck]

3. Wow, cbayer, that is crazy! Thanks for the report. =^)

[adigal]

4. You were on a boat during this??? Thank goodness

you are OK!!! I am a major coward, I would have headed to the hills.

[grasswire]

5. oh noooooo

How frightened you must have been. At least it was daylight.

So glad to hear that you are safe. Any news of any more waves coming?

Keep us posted, and you will be in our thoughts.

[FLPanhandle]

6. Wow.

Did you think about heading out to sea to avoid the currents and other boats?

[JuniperLea]

7. I wondered about you...

Glad you are all safe!

I've been watching the Huntington Beach cam... my home is at 50ft, several miles up Seal Beach Blvd., but Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and Sunset Beach have hundreds of homes at sea level.

[Control-Z]

17. I've been worried about everyone down on

Balboa. A bigger tsunami would cover all of that area - every last house and business. There would be nothing left.

[JuniperLea]

19. True... there's a lot of low lying area...

I wonder how long the coast remains in danger.

[Control-Z]

23. All of the surrounding islands

are man made - on sand bars. Scary.

I think I read somewhere that they were planning to give the clear sometime this afternoon/evening.

[Lucinda]

8. I'm glad you are safe!

Scary!

[Scuba]

9. Stay safe. Thanks for posting. n/t

[slackmaster]

10. Wow. What was it like on the west end at Two Harbors?

Thanks for the first-person report!

:kick:

[Gregorian]

11. I didn't think the roaring surf yesterday had anything to do with the tsunami.

Now I'm beginning to think it did. I'm up in Mendocino.

I spent summers on the beach of Emerald bay when I was a kid. Some amazing experiences.

[Teaser]

31. yesterday?

couldn't have been. That would have been before the earthquake.

[Gregorian]

32. I didn't know the time of the quake.

And I was confused by a large coast guard plane I had never seen on the coast until yesterday around noon. Weird. Just a coincidence.

Fighter jets just flew up the coast a few minutes ago. I can see the ocean from my sealed bunker in the hills.

[underpants]

12. I completely missed this story - thanks for the info

I saw the headline as I left this morning and I have no internet at work.

I do have to say that I heard an NFL "insider" on Mike&Mike and the first thing he said was "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan ...." he mentioned the tsunami too.

[Imajika]

13. Incredible, thank you for this first hand account...

Amazing how powerful they are eh?

Glad to hear your safe and able to check in.

I think the video and pictures we are going to see from Japan are going to be truly heartbreaking beyond imagination.

Thanks again for the information.

[CoffeeCat]

14. Wow, thank you for this report...

I am glad that you are safe. I'm sure that was quite an experience. LIke you said, this is a
good reminder to always heed these warnings.

I have a friend in Santa Monica who lives a few miles from the beach, and I was wondering how
everything unfolded. Last I heard, they weren't expecting too much, and I hope their expectations
were correct.

Best to you, and how lovely that you live on Catalina Island. I can only imagine how wonderful
that experience is! :)

[Curmudgeoness]

15. When they say nature is awesome, that is not a generic term.

Thanks for the very well done report. It must have been terrifying. (Admit it.)

[Bluenorthwest]

16. I love that island deeply, and value this report.

Thank you and my best to the people of Catalina, on land and on sea.

[maddezmom]

18. so glad you and yours are safe

:hug:

[cbayer]

20. I just want to add one thing here.

Some people know that I was in New Orleans during and after Katrina. The worst part of it, bar none, was being cut off from the rest of the world. Going through an experience like this and knowing that there is a community of people who care and think of all of the others who are experiencing something frightening and unknown is a treasure beyond description.

Thanks to all of you in this wonderful community. I am too tired to respond to individual posts, but I assure you that your thoughts and good wishes are truly valued and warmly accepted.

:grouphug:

[Tindalos]

34. I'm glad you're ok.

We were all thinking of you and so happy to hear you are safe. :hug:

[pinto]

36. K 'n R

:grouphug:

[Bluenorthwest]

21. A link to Earthquake and Tsunami preparation tips, for all...

http://www.shakeout.org/ this is a CA program, filled with good information.

[pacalo]

22. Awesome report! My husband & I stayed up late watching the news reports.

Someone on MSNBC said that the water beyond 600 ft. of the shoreline would be relatively calm, getting more violent nearer to shore. I was amazed to hear that.

So sorry you had to go through that but glad you're okay. My husband & I were just talking about California, looking for information.

[cally]

24. Wow. I had no idea it was that bad

I'm so glad you are safe. I kept checking all day for updates when I should have been working. :hug:

[aquart]

25. Glad you are safe.

Very glad you will never ignore a tsunami warning.

[IDemo]

26. I wonder how Sunset Beach was affected

Small town 6 miles or so north of Huntington Beach, it's quite flat and surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and what I just remember as "the bay", either Anaheim Bay or Huntington Harbor, I can't remember. They used to get "extreme high tides" where the water converged and sometimes covered Pacific Coast Highway, which is why most of the places right on the beach are built on stilts.

[NRaleighLiberal]

27. Been thinking of you all day, friend. Glad you are safe.

:hug:

[Kurovski]

28. Thank you for the report.

Overall, it has been a stressful, tremendously dark day.

[Cali_Democrat]

29. Thanks for that

[Dead_Parrot]

30. Glad to hear you came through it OK

Surges in harbours can be... interesting.

[greatauntoftriplets]

33. I'm happy that you are okay and weep for the people of Japan...

who were so hard hit by the quake and then the tsunami.

:toast:

[Raine]

35. THANKS for this firsthand report

GLAD that you're all OK.

[Mnemosyne]

37. Hope you have gotten some rest, cbayer. Sounds very intense and exhausting. Thanks for report. n/t

:hug:

Prayers for Japan. :grouphug:

[malaise]

38. Thanks for your report

Stay safe :grouphug:

[JHB]

39. Glad to hear you're OK n/t