First waves from tsunami hit U.S. mainland coast

[Guest guest]

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110311/tsunami-warning-pacific\

-110311/20110311/?hub=MontrealHome

First waves from tsunami hit U.S. mainland coast

Updated: Fri Mar. 11 2011 12:08:11 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

The first waves spawned by a devastating earthquake off Japan have crossed the

Pacific Ocean and are now reaching North America, though they appear to have

lost some of their destructive power.

The surge hit Port Orford, Oregon at about 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, said

geophysicist Gerard Fryer, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

Residents of low-lying areas of Oregon, California and Washington had been told

hours earlier to evacuate.

The U.S. National Weather Service predicted some of the biggest waves, of up to

seven feet, would come ashore near Crescent City, California and officials

cautioned that the danger has not yet passed.

California, Oregon, Washington, B.C. and Alaska were all subject to various

warnings and advisories Friday morning.

B.C.'s north coast and the Haida Gwaii Islands were subject to a tsunami

advisory, along with the Bella Bella and Shearwater areas and the coast of

Vancouver Island from Cape to Port Renfrew.

Residents were warned by B.C.'s Provincial Emergency Program that marinas and

low-lying areas could be in danger from strong currents and waves of up to 60

centimetres.

CTV's Jim Beatty, reporting from the beach in Tofino, B.C., said if tsunami

waves arrived there on Friday morning, no one noticed.

" This is a rugged coast, there's all kinds of pounding waves and surf that comes

in here so we were watching it, locals had a close eye on it, and really if the

waves did come in they weren't noticeable because there's a big heavy surf

coming in, " he told CTV's Canada AM.

Many residents in the area had prepared for possible destruction, some staying

up all night on the lookout, others moving their belongings.

CTV's Galashan, reporting from Richmond, B.C., said there were no reports

of destruction from other at-risk areas of B.C. either.

PM ready to offer help

Speaking in Guelph, Ont. on Friday morning, Prime Minister Harper said

the government was closely monitoring the situation in Canada.

Though municipal and provincial officials are responsible for addressing any

immediate needs in affected areas, Harper said federal officials would work with

B.C. to help where they could.

" We are closely monitoring the potential consequences on the western coast of

Canada and encourage people there to follow the instructions of local

authorities, " Harper said.

Waves surge through Hawaii

Earlier Friday morning in Hawaii, Kauai was the first island to be struck, with

tsunami waves making landfall around 8:30 ET, according to the Pacific Tsunami

Warning Center. The highest waves were about three metres, and came ashore on

the west side of the island, reaching a hotel lobby.

One-metre high waves also hit parts of the island of Oahu. The waves swept

ashore in Honolulu, swamping the empty beach in Waikiki and overwhelming the

breakwall in the world-famous resort. However, the waves didn't reach the nearby

high-rise hotels.

Two-metre high waves, and flooding, were recorded in Maui, and officials warned

that the waves would continue and could become larger

However, a scientist at the tsunami warning centre said it didn't appear the

surge would cause major damage in Hawaii.

" But there is going to be some damage, I'm sure, " said geophysicist Gerard Fryer

in Hawaii.

Warning sirens first began sounding overnight in Hawaii, and residents of

at-risk coastal areas moved to evacuation centres and tourists were moved to the

higher floors of their hotels.