Associated Press
LONG BEACH — This Pacific Coast community joins Ocean Shores as officially "tsunami ready," a federal designation that recognizes that the towns have plans to save lives should an earthquake send giant waves toward their shores.
Ocean Shores won its designation from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in June. Long Beach planned to mark its recognition in a public ceremony on Thursday.
After Pacific County officials mapped areas that would be inundated by a giant wave, evacuation route signs and tsunami hazard zone signs were posted around Long Beach, said Stephanie Fritts, director of the county’s Emergency Management Office.
Studies show that in the past, earthquakes off the Northwest coast have churned up tsunamis that have sloshed well inland of coastal towns such as Long Beach and Seaside, Ore. Scientists say the last such great earthquake occurred in January 1700.
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