UPDATE 2:37 p.m.: Dan Nelson of the Office of Emergency Management has told KSRM News that the tsunami threat has passed.
UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District has Tweeted that Homer area schools are open and children are safe, with the schools are above the tsunami inundation lines. They say, “You do not need to pick up your children.” Some exceptions are mentioned, as seen below:
ORIGINAL POST: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred just before 1:00 p.m. 55 miles southeast of Sand Point. It triggered a Tsunami Warning including the coastal areas of the state from Kennedy Entrance, which is 40 miles southwest of Homer, to Unimak Pass, which is located 80 miles Northeast of Unalaska. If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground.
Residents of the central portion of the Peninsula are likely safe, according to Office of Emergency Manager Dan Nelson: “Folks in the Central Peninsula: take no action, the tsunami will not come this far, and we’re still evaluating Homer. The areas of the tsunami of concern are Homer and Kachemak Bay, nothing north of that. Soldotna, Kenai folks: take no action. Don’t go to high ground.”
Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring. Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest.
Estimated tsunami start times for selected sites are:
- Sand Point: 1:55 p.m.
- Cold Bay: 2:45 p.m.
- Kodiak: 2:50 p.m.
The tsunami warning will remain in effect until further notice. Refer to tsunami.gov for more information.