Japan Quake and Tsunami

<p>Yeah, I caught it as the initial wave was inundating the northern coast of Japan, and it was completely chilling.  The wave picked up every loose thing ahead of it (I saw things from big rigs to flaming buildings floating on top.)  It almost looked like people were driving around unaware of what was happening, sometimes heading toward the point where the road was about to be inundated. </p>
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<p>Some folks were even getting out of their cars and running toward what they thought was some kind of higher ground, or gathering at the fence of their building parking lots as if they were mystified by what they were seeing (quite a few probably were.)</p>
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<p>My best thoughts go out to all the people there and those affected</p>

<p>The waves aren't appearing to be such a big deal on the West Coast as it's turning out - I think it helped out that we are on a lowering tide cycle at the moment</p>
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<p>Still, it's not like it hasn't happened here before.  I drove through Crescent City on the north coast late last year, where in 1964 it was hit by a tsunami generated by the Good Friday Earthquake in Alaska (at 9.2, the largest ever recorded in North America).</p>
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<p>If you have the time, a fairly detailed six-part report by the local newspaper on the 30th year anniversary of the event details what happened - turned out it was the third & fourth waves that caused the most destruction</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.triplicate.com/20090328105491/News/Local-News/The-waves-of-destruction" target="_blank">Why Are We Tsunami-Prone: '64 Just The Worst One, So Far</a></p>

<p>Crap, I spoke too soon</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-crescent-city-california-20110311,0,3043382.story" target="_blank">Crescent City, Santa Cruz Hit Hard By Tsunami</a></p>
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<p>ETA New Link:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=127779&amp;catid=2&amp;sms_ss=facebook&amp;at_xt=4d7a7b0ba0bd3c33,0" target="_blank">Waves Sweep Four Out To Sea in Crescent City as Tsunami Surges Reach West Coast</a></p>
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<p>Historically, tsunami waves that enter the bay lose a lot of punch due to the narrow opening in the Golden Gate, but this picture on one of the local news sites shows one of them that got through (this is taken from Berkeley)</p>
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<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/78966/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Tsunami600x336.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16387" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16387/width/600/height/336" style="; width: 600px; height: 336px"></a></p>