Emergency agencies have issued tsunami warnings for Northern
California and said evacuations in some areas could be possible,
but conditions in the San Joaquin Delta remain unaffected at this
point.
Emergency agencies have issued tsunami warnings for Northern California and said evacuations in some areas could be possible, but conditions in the San Joaquin Delta remain unaffected at this point.
However, an official for San Joaquin County’s Office of Emergency Services said people along Delta waterways and recreating near riverbanks should remain aware of potential changes to conditions.
“If you have a child or dog close to water and there is enough lift, it could catch people off guard,” said Michael Cockrell, assistant coordinator of emergency services for San Joaquin County.
Although the California Emergency Management Agency warned 6-foot tsunami waves could reach the California coast and evacuations could be considered, Cockrell said local weather conditions are working in the county’s favor.
“Our high tide [in San Francisco Bay] was 7 a.m., so the tide is going out when a wave would be coming in,” Cockrell said. “We also have good weather right now; water isn’t slapping the levees.”
The warnings were triggered in the aftermath of a 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Although there are concerns the water could be pushed into San Francisco Bay and through the Delta, a California Department of Water Resources spokesman said the possibility is remote at this point.
“Emergency crews conduct drills for these sort of things all the time so they are ready when the real thing comes,” said Sandy Cooney of the DWR. “But the bottom line is that all is well right now.”
The affects San Joaquin County would feel would likely be more indirect, Cockrell said.
“If there were to be damage along the coast, utilities could be affected,” he said. “A lot of our residents also conduct business in Japan and have families over there.”
The county could also serve as a staging ground for aid missions to Japan, he said.
