cbayer
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:29 PM
Original message |
Tsunami Report from Catalina Island, California |
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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.
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katty
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:31 PM
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1. wow, and santa cruz harbor got hit |
Cleita
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:32 PM
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2. Wow! What an experience! |
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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.
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Thunderstruck
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:32 PM
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3. Wow, cbayer, that is crazy! Thanks for the report. =^) |
adigal
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:33 PM
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4. You were on a boat during this??? Thank goodness |
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you are OK!!! I am a major coward, I would have headed to the hills.
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grasswire
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:33 PM
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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.
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FLPanhandle
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:33 PM
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Did you think about heading out to sea to avoid the currents and other boats?
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JuniperLea
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:35 PM
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7. I wondered about you... |
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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.
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Control-Z
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:49 PM
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17. I've been worried about everyone down on |
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Balboa. A bigger tsunami would cover all of that area - every last house and business. There would be nothing left.
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JuniperLea
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:52 PM
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19. True... there's a lot of low lying area... |
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I wonder how long the coast remains in danger.
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Control-Z
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:57 PM
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23. All of the surrounding islands |
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are man made - on sand bars. Scary.
I think I read somewhere that they were planning to give the clear sometime this afternoon/evening.
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Lucinda
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:39 PM
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8. I'm glad you are safe! |
Scuba
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:39 PM
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9. Stay safe. Thanks for posting. n/t |
slackmaster
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:40 PM
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10. Wow. What was it like on the west end at Two Harbors? |
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Thanks for the first-person report!
:kick:
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Gregorian
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:40 PM
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11. I didn't think the roaring surf yesterday had anything to do with the tsunami. |
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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.
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Teaser
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Fri Mar-11-11 08:03 PM
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couldn't have been. That would have been before the earthquake.
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Gregorian
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Fri Mar-11-11 08:32 PM
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32. I didn't know the time of the quake. |
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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.
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underpants
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:42 PM
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12. I completely missed this story - thanks for the info |
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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.
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Imajika
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:42 PM
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13. Incredible, thank you for this first hand account... |
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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.
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CoffeeCat
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:42 PM
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14. Wow, thank you for this report... |
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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! :)
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Curmudgeoness
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:45 PM
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15. When they say nature is awesome, that is not a generic term. |
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Thanks for the very well done report. It must have been terrifying. (Admit it.)
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Bluenorthwest
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:46 PM
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16. I love that island deeply, and value this report. |
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Thank you and my best to the people of Catalina, on land and on sea.
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maddezmom
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:52 PM
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18. so glad you and yours are safe |
cbayer
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:52 PM
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20. I just want to add one thing here. |
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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:
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Tindalos
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Fri Mar-11-11 10:07 PM
Response to Reply #20 |
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We were all thinking of you and so happy to hear you are safe. :hug:
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pinto
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Sat Mar-12-11 12:02 AM
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Bluenorthwest
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:52 PM
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21. A link to Earthquake and Tsunami preparation tips, for all... |
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http://www.shakeout.org/ this is a CA program, filled with good information.
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pacalo
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:53 PM
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22. Awesome report! My husband & I stayed up late watching the news reports. |
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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.
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cally
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Fri Mar-11-11 06:59 PM
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24. Wow. I had no idea it was that bad |
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I'm so glad you are safe. I kept checking all day for updates when I should have been working. :hug:
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aquart
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Fri Mar-11-11 07:09 PM
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Very glad you will never ignore a tsunami warning.
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IDemo
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Fri Mar-11-11 07:11 PM
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26. I wonder how Sunset Beach was affected |
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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.
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NRaleighLiberal
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Fri Mar-11-11 07:27 PM
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27. Been thinking of you all day, friend. Glad you are safe. |
Kurovski
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Fri Mar-11-11 07:36 PM
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28. Thank you for the report. |
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Overall, it has been a stressful, tremendously dark day.
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Cali_Democrat
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Fri Mar-11-11 07:38 PM
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Dead_Parrot
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Fri Mar-11-11 08:01 PM
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30. Glad to hear you came through it OK |
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Surges in harbours can be... interesting.
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greatauntoftriplets
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Fri Mar-11-11 09:05 PM
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33. I'm happy that you are okay and weep for the people of Japan... |
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who were so hard hit by the quake and then the tsunami.
:toast:
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Raine
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Fri Mar-11-11 10:25 PM
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35. THANKS for this firsthand report |
Mnemosyne
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Sat Mar-12-11 10:36 AM
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37. Hope you have gotten some rest, cbayer. Sounds very intense and exhausting. Thanks for report. n/t |
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Edited on Sat Mar-12-11 10:37 AM by Mnemosyne
:hug:
Prayers for Japan. :grouphug:
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malaise
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Sat Mar-12-11 10:41 AM
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38. Thanks for your report |
JHB
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Sat Mar-12-11 10:42 AM
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39. Glad to hear you're OK n/t |
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