Tsunami in Santa Cruz, CA

jyasaki · 12 March 2011, 00:50

The tsunami caused by the Japanese earthquake struck Santa Cruz, CA at about 9 to 10am Friday morning. Santa Cruz Small Boat Harbor is, unfortunately, positioned just so that the water's force shotgunned into the mouth. After several cycles of emptying and filling, officials are rough-guessing damage at $15 million (figure apparently includes infrastructure and boats.)

Further up the coast in Crescent City, home to a fairly large fishing fleet, the harbor sustained major damage. The Harbormaster estimates 3 dozen boats "crushed", no reports on sunk or foundering boats. Nearly all docks are apparently damaged or destroyed.

Along the California coast, only one person is believed to be missing (presumed dead at this point - 50 degree water, missing for about 6 hours.) The victim was one of 3 who went to the Oregon shore to take pictures of the tsunami waves. The other two were washed in, but managed to make it back to shore.

Monterey Harbor (about 25 miles south of Santa Cruz), where I am heading to tomorrow for diving, apparently suffered no damage at all. Apparently only minor damage to some boats within the San Francisco Bay.

jky

yoyo · 12 March 2011, 01:52

Ive visited SF, Monterey and Santa Cruz harbour a few years ago when I did the CA route 1 whilst working at Stanford Uni.

We have got BBC news pictures of the very nice boats being tossed around in Santa Cruz harbour

I wonder if any surfer dudes were out at Half moon bay and Pacifica beach!

jyasaki · 12 March 2011, 06:26

Surfers were all over, actually: Ocean Beach, SF; all over the Half Moon Bay area, and Santa Cruz. Didn't hear anyone raving about the waves, though. I guess it's more of a "I surfed a tsunami" thing.

jky

limeydal · 28 March 2011, 05:49

Hard to believe the effect it had in Santa Cruz

Saw the footage on the news and was amazed at the damage it caused.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgt8qBSZEn0

We got several small surges here in San Diego ,with the only casualty , being the bait barge torn from its moorings in mission Bay and pushed into some yachts.
cheers Dal