About FlashAlert on Twitter:
FlashAlert utilizes the free service Twitter to distribute emergency text messages. While you are welcome to register your cell phone text message address directly into the FlashAlert system, we recommend that you simply "follow" the FlashAlert account for City of Seaside by clicking on the link below and logging in to (or creating) your free Twitter account. Twitter sends messages out exceptionally fast thanks to arrangements they have made with the cell phone companies.
Click here to add City of Seaside to your Twitter account or create one.
@CityofSeaside
Seaside, Ore. - January 23, 2018 - Early this morning, at approximately 1:31 a.m. local time, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck 174 miles off Kodiak, Alaska. This immediately triggered a tsunami watch, not an advisory or a warning, for coastal areas from Northern Washington to Southern California, including Seaside.
City of Seaside emergency protocol dictates had this watch risen to the levels of advisory or warning, direct messaging - including use of the city's tsunami warning system - would have alerted residents and visitors by using a number of different warning indicators. The city's Nixle Alerts, alarm towers, social media channels, along with use of Clatsop County's IPAWS system would have all served as potential methods for alerting the public.
Seaside's Dispatch Center is equipped with a monitoring system and the City of Seaside was carefully monitoring the event. If the event had risen to a level where tsunami wave actions were imminent for our area, the system would have pushed out messaging indicating as such.
By definition, a "watch" means there is the potential for an event to happen and details are still unknown. Next on the scale is an "advisory" which means strong currents and waves have been noted. A "warning" addresses the final level of notification which indicates that dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are likely imminent.
City staff recommends that residents sign up for alerts that can help keep them informed for events like this in the future. Local alerts, powered by Nixle, can be obtained by sending the zip code, 97138, by text, to phone number 888777. This will sign you up for our monthly warnings. You can also register your phone number and email by visiting nixle.com. Alternatively, you can follow the Seaside Police Department, City of Seaside and Seaside Fire on Facebook. National Weather Service alerts for our area - including the threat of tsunamis - which includes when earthquakes strike, one can register by visiting weather.gov/alerts.
**end of release**