HSU Open, Classes Proceeding – March 11, 2011
HSU Press Release
Tsunami Warning: HSU Campus Open; Students Traveling forSpring Break Should Check Conditions
The National Weather Service continues to issue tsunami warnings for coastal northwestern California.
This evacuation order does NOT include the main campus of Humboldt State University. The tsunami waves will not reach the campus. The campus is open, and Humboldt State’s on-campus classes and activities are proceeding as scheduled.
HSU officials are urging students traveling for Spring Break to be cautious and check road conditions in advance.
At this time, Highway 101 is closed at a point 11 miles north of Trinidad and in areas around Crescent City. Updated highway conditions are available at www.dot.ca.gov or at 1-800-427-7623.
The first tsunami waves have reached the North Coast as predicted at around 7:30 a.m., and there were visible changes in sea level. Waves could continue 10-12 hours, creating some coastal flooding and powerful currents.
There has been no known damage to any HSU facilities, either on the main campus or at other properties.
The Humboldt County Director of Emergency Services has declared a local emergency, has asked people to stay off beaches and away from coastlines, not travel by watercraft, and has directed evacuation of low-lying coastal areas.
Local agencies are sounding tsunami warning sirens and working to evacuate coastal, low-lying areas. As a precaution, Arcata Police are asking residents in tsunami hazard zones south of Samoa Boulevard to evacuate.
All persons are advised to stay out of the water, off the beach and away from docks, harbors and marinas, where
currents may be strong and unpredictable. Wave heights will vary by location and are difficult to predict. There will be a number of surges, and the initial one will likely not be the largest.
Staff at HSU satellite properties near the bay and coastline should exercise caution and follow directions in National Weather Service advisories. There is no historic record of a tsunami wave ever reaching the main HSU campus.
Updated highway conditions are available at www.dot.ca.gov. Stay tuned to local media or NOAA weather radio for updates, or visit the National Weather Service’s Tsunami site,http://tsunami.gov . A special NWS website is being updated hourly at http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=CAZ001&warncounty=CAC023&firewxzone=CAZ201&local_place1=Eureka+CA&product1=Tsunami+Warning.
