In 2011, an earthquake in Japan triggered a tsunami that caused millions of dollars of damage in California, including in Crescent City. In the world of emergency management, said Gonzalez, “tsunamis are one of the better disasters.” I guess that’s reassuring? In March 2011, a tsunami generated by a 9.1 earthquake in Japan hit California 10 hours later. As recently as January 2022, a volcano obliterated most of an island in Tonga, generating a wave that traveled 5,000 miles across the Pacific and caused damage up and down the California coast. Oh and one other thing: Large meteors plunging into the ocean from outer space can also cause tsunamis.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 25, 2023 14:29 UTC