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(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) –Santa Barbara County Parks and the County Office of Emergency Management have teamed up to host Tsunami Walk & Roll Events at local beaches to help community members understand the impacts a tsunami can have on our coastal communities and how to stay safe. County Park Rangers will be onsite educating about tsunamis and showing people how to safely evacuate in the event a tsunami reaches Santa Barbara County shores. Beach wheelchairs will be available for use. All community members are invited to attend!
Event Details
Four Tsunami Walk & Roll events will take place on Thursday, March 27, 2025 during the following times at the noted locations:
- 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Guadalupe Beach and Goleta Beach
- 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Arroyo Burro Beach and Jalama Beach
With approximately 110 miles of shoreline, Santa Barbara County is susceptible to the impacts of tsunamis. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. All coastal areas, including our local beaches, and some inland areas have the potential to become flooded if the conditions indicate a tsunami threat exists.
Community members are encouraged to take the following actions to prepare for the case of a tsunami:
· Know the tsunami hazard zones for areas you live and/or visit.
· If you live, visit, or work in a tsunami hazard area, be aware of the warning signs that indicate potential tsunami activity including a strong earthquake, the ocean withdrawing or rising rapidly, or a loud, roaring sound coming from the sea.
· Identify an evacuation location that is on high ground or inland and away from the water. Evacuation sites should be accessible and not dependent on a vehicle. Note: Some beach areas have tsunami evacuation route maps onsite.
· Practice your evacuation routes – join a Tsunami Walk & Roll event!
· Register for emergency alerts from local public safety officials.
The National Tsunami Warning Center determines the threat level of a tsunami by collecting data from across the Pacific Ocean. Three levels of notifications exist for tsunamis. Beachgoers should familiarize themselves with the following notifications and follow directions from public officials:
- Tsunami Watch: A tsunami may later impact the area.
- Tsunami Advisory: A tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or waves is imminent, expected, or occurring.
- Tsunami Warning: A tsunami with the potential to generate widespread inundation is imminent, expected, or occurring. Evacuations of identified tsunami inundation areas will be required.
Beachgoers must be aware of the warning signs as there may not be time for public safety officials to send a notification before the effects of a tsunami are felt. In the event of an earthquake or tsunami notification, residents and visitors should stay out of the water and away from the tsunami hazard zones until public safety officials have deemed it safe to return. The first wave may not be the last or the largest and the danger may last for hours or days.
The County of Santa Barbara recognizes Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 30, 2025, as Tsunami Preparedness Week. To learn more about tsunami safety and the steps to prepare, visit https://www.readysbc.org/597/Tsunami.
REGISTER TO RECEIVE ReadySBC ALERTS: If you haven’t registered for emergency alerts, register now at ReadySBC.org. Receive local emergency alerts via text, phone call, and email.
