Marin County residents had a bit of a scare this week. The Tiburon Peninsula landed under a tsunami advisory after a massive earthquake hit near Russia.
This powerful 8.7-magnitude quake set off precautionary measures up and down California’s coast. Several Marin County towns got alerts, but thankfully, officials canceled the advisory by the next morning and nothing happened.
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Understanding the Tsunami Advisory for Tiburon and Surrounding Areas
On July 29, people living in Tiburon, Belvedere, and other coastal spots in Marin woke up to a tsunami advisory. That came after an 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.
The National Weather Service started with a tsunami watch for California, then bumped it to an advisory around 6:30 p.m. Local officials in Mill Valley, Sausalito, and other bayside towns quickly sent out alerts.
The advisory told everyone to stay away from beaches, harbors, and waterways. Dangerous currents and odd waves were possible, even if the big waves didn’t show up.
If the tsunami had actually hit as predicted, it would’ve reached San Francisco Bay around 12:40 a.m. on July 30. That might have affected areas from Sausalito all the way up to San Rafael.
What a Tsunami Advisory Means for Marin Residents
Folks in Corte Madera, Larkspur, and the rest of Marin should know the difference between tsunami alerts. A tsunami warning means there’s a real risk of major damage, while an advisory signals something less severe but still risky—think strong currents, not walls of water.
For Tiburon Peninsula, the forecast called for peak wave heights under a foot. That’s not enough for flooding, but it’s definitely enough to make things sketchy for swimmers, boaters, and anyone hanging out by the water.
Emergency Response and Preparedness in Marin County
During the advisory, emergency teams all over Marin County jumped into action. Residents from Novato to Point Reyes Station got nudged to sign up for Alert Marin, the county’s emergency notification system.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office worked with local police in Tiburon, San Anselmo, and Fairfax. They made sure people had the latest info as things developed.
Understanding the Seismic Event
This earthquake was no joke. It struck about 80 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka at a depth of 46 miles, making it the strongest quake globally since 2011.
Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula gets a lot of seismic action—five big quakes already this month, including one at 7.4. That’s wild, right?
Marin County sits right on the San Andreas Fault, so people in places like Ross and Kentfield know about earthquake prep. But tsunami readiness? That’s a whole different ballgame, especially for folks near Richardson Bay and Tomales Bay.
Moving Forward: Tsunami Preparedness for Marin Residents
This event really drives home how important it is for everyone in Marin County to be prepared for emergencies. Folks living in coastal spots from Muir Beach to Stinson Beach should take a few simple steps:
The Tiburon Peninsula and other Marin coastal areas didn’t see any impact from this event. Still, it’s a wake-up call. Our gorgeous bayside and oceanfront neighborhoods do face natural hazards, and staying prepared just makes sense.
Here is the source article for this story: The Ark | Tsunami alert upgraded to advisory for Tiburon Peninsula after Russia earthquake
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