North Coast Tsunami Drill Set for March 25, Testing Warnings and Evacuations

At 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, the National Weather Service in Eureka will push a test message across NOAA weather radio, commercial radio, and local TV broadcasts, kicking off the annual North Coast Tsunami Drill for residents in Humboldt, Del Norte, and Mendocino counties.

This year's drill carries a notable change from prior exercises: the NWS will not issue a live-code tsunami warning. The message will not include the words "Tsunami Warning," and TV crawlers will explicitly state the broadcast is only a test. "Use this test message as your indication to participate in the evacuation drill," the NWS press release states.

The exercise is coordinated by the Offices of Emergency Services in all three counties, the NWS Eureka office, and the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group. The California Office of Emergency Services and tribal governments are also listed as partners in the broader test framework.

Alongside the NWS broadcast, Humboldt County OES will issue a countywide test notification through Humboldt Alert, the county's opt-in public alert and warning system. Because the system requires registration to receive notifications, residents are urged to review or update their account preferences at humboldtgov.org/alert before the drill. Del Norte and Mendocino counties will similarly test their own opt-in alert systems.

The instructions for March 25 depend entirely on where you are when the test message goes out. "If you are in a tsunami zone, practice your evacuation plan by walking to higher ground or outside the tsunami hazard area," according to the NWS press release. Those outside the hazard zone should stay put and instead use the time to think through how they would respond after a damaging earthquake. Residents unsure of their status can check the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group's hazard maps at rctwg.humboldt.edu/tsunami-hazard-maps to determine whether their home, workplace, or frequently visited areas fall within an evacuation zone.

One of the drill's core safety messages extends well beyond the initial wave: dangerous tsunami conditions can persist for 24 to 48 hours after the first wave arrives. In a real event, residents should not return to hazard areas until officials confirm it is safe to do so.

To register participation in the drill, use the short link bit.ly/NCTsunamiDrillForm. For questions about Humboldt County's emergency preparedness efforts, contact Humboldt OES at 707-268-2500 or visit humboldtgov.org/OES. The NWS Eureka office can be reached at (707) 443-6484.