Sequim Gazette staff

Do you live in a tsunami evacuation zone?

Find out by turning to the Pacific Northwest Tsunami Evacuation Zones’ new interactive website, which provides an at-a-glance view of tsunami hazard zones along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. The site includes a nifty tool that lets visitors enter a specific address.

The site was developed by the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems program.

The online portal can be found on the web at http://www.nanoos.org/nvs/nvs.php?section=NVS-Products-Tsunamis-Evacuation.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources mapped the zones that would be inundated by a tsunami. Bob Redling, senior communications coordinator for the DNR, says the website serves “as an important tool in preparing for a potentially catastrophic tsunami event along the Pacific Northwest coast.”

The website is the result of a collaboration of several agencies, both state and federal.

Always of value

In addition to the maps, the portal provides information that’s important to have in hand before, during and following a tsunami, including:

• Direct links to tsunami warnings issued by the NOAA West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

• The site’s “Markers” feature displays pre-set locations of schools, bridges, assembly areas and various local government and emergency management buildings.

• Downloadable brochures showing evacuation routes and links to local emergency agencies for many communities along the Washington coast.

Redling said that while tsunamis are infrequent, they represent “a major threat to both life and property on the Washington coast.”