Del Norte County dodges a Tsunami bullet

The earthquake off Kamchatka Peninsula was an 8.8 Richter monster, the most powerful in 14 years. The ripple effect several hours later onCrescentCityand the West Coast was relatively tame; nonetheless, all precautions were taken by law enforcement, Office of Emergency Services, the Coast Guard and other supporting agencies.

According to Harbormaster Mike Rademacker, at approximately 2:40AM, Wednesday, the Crescent City Harbor sustained significant tsunami-related damage, primarily affecting “H” Dock. A surge of water several feet in height caused the decking of the dock to lift along its piling but as water levels continued to rise, the structure was unable to adjust. The decking became lodged on the pilings and was eventually submerged, resulting in major structural failure and a complete separation off the dock.

No injuries or deaths were reported.

All vessel movements, both arrivals and departures are suspended by the harbormaster until further notice, in order to prevent personal injury and protect harbor infrastructure. Power and water service have been shut off, except to power for emergency pumps, as wave surges are on going.

In anticipation of the impending tsunami, many vessels exited the harbor to ensure safety to their crafts. The Coast Guard denied re-access to the harbor, pending an all clear announcement from the Coast Guard.

Yesterday’s Tsunami follows the catastrophic damage in 2011, the inner boast basin was completely reconstructed to be tsunami- resistant. Damage assessments are still underway.