MENDOCINO CO., 3/22/26 – Residents along the Mendocino Coast are encouraged to take part in the annual North Coast Tsunami Drill on Wednesday at 11 a.m., emergency officials said. The drill covers Mendocino, Del Norte, and Humboldt counties.
The drill, coordinated by the Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services along with regional partners and the National Weather Service in Eureka, is designed to help coastal communities practice how they would respond to a locally felt earthquake followed by a tsunami.
The exercise comes months after a real tsunami advisory was issued along the Mendocino Coast in July 2025, when waves of up to about 3 feet were recorded in places such as Arena Cove following a powerful offshore earthquake.
People in tsunami hazard zones — including low-lying coastal areas such as Fort Bragg, Mendocino, Albion and other shoreline communities — are asked to walk to higher ground or outside the hazard area at 11 a.m. as part of the exercise. Those outside tsunami zones do not need to evacuate but are encouraged to use the time to consider how they would respond to a major earthquake.
Officials emphasized that in a real tsunami, dangerous waves can continue for 24 to 48 hours after the first wave arrives. Residents should not return to coastal hazard areas until authorities say it is safe.
As part of the drill, the National Weather Service will issue a test message over weather radio, commercial radio and local television stations. The message will use a test code and will not include the phrase “tsunami warning,” though on-screen crawlers will indicate it is only a test.
Mendocino County will also test its MendoAlert notification system. Residents are encouraged to review and update their alert preferences through the county’s emergency alert platform.
Officials are also urging residents to check tsunami hazard maps to determine whether their homes, workplaces or frequently visited areas are in evacuation zones.
Emergency preparedness officials said practicing evacuation routes and planning ahead are key steps in preparing for a tsunami or other emergency.
Was very surprised to see warnings about tsunami drill on hwy sign in Clearlake! (1300+ elevation)