Tsunami Warning System To Be Tested In Northern California

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA -- Three California counties will test the tsunami warning system Wednesday. The warning system test will take place between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the counties of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte, officials announced.

Residents in those communities who are watching television during the hour Wednesday can expect to see a crawler at the bottom of the screen indicating that a tsunami warning has been issued and hear a voice indicating that it is only a test, officials said.

If you are listening to the radio you will hear alerting tones followed by a voice announcing that the test is occurring. If you have a NOAA weather radio with the Public Alert feature the radio will automatically turn on and you will hear the same message as broadcast on radios, officials said.

As part of the Tsunami Warning system, the Civil Air Patrol, weather permitting, will be flying along the coastlines of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties testing their public address system.

If there is a real earthquake in the Pacific Ocean that has the potential to generate tsunami for our coastline the test will be cancelled, officials said.

For more information on how to survive an earthquake or prepare for a tsunami please go to www.humboldt.edu/shakyground/.

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