Warning system gets workout

Huntington Beach lifeguards evacuated the beach and the pier after

receiving word of a tsunami warning at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, said

city Emergency Services Coordinator Gloria Morrison.

A lifeguard heard the warning on the radio and immediately called

the police department watch commander, who is responsible for

notifying the city during an emergency, Morrison said.

When marine safety contacted the police, information about the

tsunami warning had not yet been issued over the California law

enforcement teletype system, Morrison said.

Lifeguards closed the beach and the pier and notified beachfront

restaurants and beach concessionaires, Morrison said.

Lifeguards were on the way to notify residents of beachfront

apartments when the warning was downgraded to a bulletin, Morrison

said. The beach and pier remained closed for the night.

“What we did was completely appropriate,” said Police Chief Ken

Small. “There’s a section in the emergency response plan that deals

with tsunamis.”

In the last 20 years, 10 tsunami warnings have been issued to the

city of Huntington Beach, Morrison said. A tsunami plan is in place

in the event a warning is issued, Morrison said.

“Our system operated exactly as scheduled,” Morrison said.