HISTORY of TSUNAMI

(Photograph of the 1964 tsunami damage at Seward, Alaska)

The tsunami waves affected the entire California coastline, but were particularly high from Crescent City to Monterey with heights on the open coast ranging from 7 - 21 feet. At Santa Cruz Harbor, the tsunami wave reached as high as 11 feet, sinking a hydraulic dredge and a 38 foot cabin cruiser and causing minor damage to the floating docks.

Damage in San Francisco Bay was largely to pleasure boats. The highest damage was reported from marinas in Marin County where strong currents induced by the tsunami caused boats and floating piers to break loose and strike other craft.

Damage at Noyo Harbor was primarily to floating piers and to commercial fishing vessels. Also, damage occurred in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. The estimated losses elsewhere along California were between $1,500,000 and $2,375,000 (1964 dollars), while at Crescent City tsunami damage was estimated at $7,414,000.

The maximum wave at Crescent City was approximately 20 to 21 feet. Crescent City Harbor is one of the oldest. Lumbering and timber products are the major industries. The first of the four tsunami waves that struck Crescent City caused no significant damage other than flooding. The second and third waves were smaller than the first. The fourth was the largest of the waves and was preceded by a withdrawal of the water which left the inner harbor almost dry. The fast moving fourth wave capsized 15 fishing boats in the harbor. Three other boats disappeared, and eight more sunk in the mooring area. Several other boats were washed onto the beach. Extensive damage was inflicted to the piers. The tsunami waves covered the entire length of Front Street, and about thirty blocks of Crescent City were devastated. Lumber, automobiles, and other objects carried by the waves were responsible for a good portion of the damage to the buildings in the area. Fires started when the largest tsunami wave picked up a gasoline tank truck and slammed it against electrical wires. The fire spread quickly to the Texaco tank farm, which burned for three days.