Guam

Welcome to the TsunamiZone in Guam!
Tsunamis (pronounced soo-ná-mees), also known as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called “tidal waves”), are a series of enormous waves created by an underwater disturbance such as an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption, or meteorite. A tsunami can move hundreds of miles per hour in the open ocean and smash into land with waves as high as 100 feet or more.

From the area where the tsunami originates, waves travel outward in all directions. Once the wave approaches the shore, it builds in height. The topography of the coastline and the ocean floor will influence the size of the wave. There may be more than one wave and the succeeding one may be larger than the one before. That is why a small tsunami at one beach can be a giant wave a few miles away.

All tsunamis are potentially dangerous, even though they may not damage every coastline they strike. A tsunami can strike anywhere along most of the U.S. coastline. The most destructive tsunamis have occurred along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.Earthquake-induced movement of the ocean floor most often generates tsunamis.

If a major earthquake or landslide occurs close to shore, the first wave in a series could reach the beach in a few minutes, even before a warning is issued. Areas are at greater risk if they are less than 25 feet above sea level and within a mile of the shoreline. Drowning is the most common cause of death associated with a tsunami. Tsunami waves and the receding water are very destructive to structures in the run-up zone. Other hazards include flooding, contamination of drinking water, and fires from gas lines or ruptured tanks.


 

Events and Resources

Tsunamis – GHS OCD | Government of Guam

Video, Quick Tips, and Tsunami Maps can be found on above link

  • Tsunami Preparedness Week – Every 4th week of March
  • National Preparedness Month – Every September


participants registered

Participate and Share

How to Participate
Information for individuals, schools and many types of organizations

 

Tsunami Week Resources
Manuals, posters, & much more

 

Who is Participating?
Lists by county, area, & category

Share Your Activities
Your photos, videos, and stories of tsunami preparedness week

Check the Stats for Guam

participants in Guam
and counting!

Tsunami Talk