Update- Hilo expected to be hit at about 1105am today


Chile got a 8.8 earthquake 200 miles off the coast about 834pm last night HST and had some damage and about 130 deaths.
see
8.8 earthquake strikes Chile, Hawaii under tsunami warning - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL Home
Tsunami warnings have been issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.



For updates see
Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL Home - Hawaii News Now - Home

Some pictures of the 1960 Hilo Tsunami



For partial list of closures for today-
Closures due to tsunami - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL Home

Civil defense alarms have sounded since 6am this morning- and sounded again on the hour

All Hawaii parks in low areas are closed. Ala Moana Park is closed

Many exits off the freeway on the Ewa Side are closed or being monitored by Police to limit traffic to low areas on the Ewa side

Due to a fatal accident involving a motorcycle the West bound H1 past Kunia is completely closed. Freeway is not open as of 9am.

1105am is the current estimated time for Hilo to be hit by the Tsumani. The bay is particularly at risk and in 1961 there was a large Tsunami that killed 63 in Hilo due to a large earthquake in Chile. Estimated crest height is 8 feet and could be as much as about 15.

Sometime later the Tsunami will reach southern facing areas of Maui then Oahu with estimates of crest height about 2 feet or more. The amount is really unknown. The wave should reach most areas in the state within about 30 to 40 minutes.

Certainly Hilo will be at highest risk for damage and the airport is closed. Some estimates this morning mention that the time of the wave could be as late as 1125 to 1150am HST. In 1960 a large Tsunami hit Hilo due to a 8.5 earthquake off the coast near Chile.
See
The 1960 Tsunami, Hilo
The wave at that time was as high as 35 feet. 61 deaths occurred
The 1960 Chilean quake/Tsunami-
EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI OF 22 MAY 1960 IN CHILE - Dr.George Pararas-Carayannis
http://www.geophys.washington.edu/tsunami/.../chilean60.html
Film of 1960 Hilo Tsunami
Hilo hit by tsunami - 1960 film on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Currently in my area-
Costco Waipio is open for gas but the lines are very long and stretched out to the roads. Tony auto group in Waipio has announced it is closed.
Foodland Waipio was open at 6am and is packed with very long lines. All Foodlands are open except for Ala Moana due to the whole shopping center being closed.
Tesoro gas stations in Mililani areas are totally packed and lines of cars are stretched out to the roads for over a quarter of a mile.


All low lying coastal areas (roads in Tsunami areas) are being closed by 10am right now by Police.
90,000 people live in Hawaii state low lying Tsunami risk zones and need to evacuate. 17,000 on the Big Island.

Hotels in low areas are now being evacuated by bus to move to higher areas. Those on third floor or higher can remain. All tourists arriving at airport are being held until Waikiki is safe. No tourist are allowed out to airport for now. Honolulu airport remains open.
US mail is not being delivered today.

Makakilo park at the top of the subdivision is full of people from the area and from the Leeward coast who have evacuated from Waianae for high ground.
Similar gatherings are reported at high area parks- round top and Pali Lookout. People have grills and are camping out with their families.

Oregon and California are also on Tsunami Watch as well as the whole of the pacific islands (including Samoa) and all of the pacific rim.

Stay safe everyone.4

 

As of 145pm

the Tsunami warning is officially cancelled.

Be careful about being in the water for the next few hours.

Ocean tides are to remain unstable even for a few days.

Aftershocks are still happening in Chile.

HellaFlush is rescheduled for tomorrow same time and place as today.

 

Good to hear all our Hawiia Brothers are safe.

 

Stay safe out there!