7.9 Peru Quake Prompts PTWC Messages; Hawaii Put on Alert, then Gets the All-Clear

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued several emails and posted alerts on its website this afternoon. One email said the major earthquake just off Peru’s coast did indeed trigger a tsunami according to sea level gauges, and an “Expanded Regional Warning" was issued for Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and other nations up the Pacific coast.

The PTWC then issued a “Tsunami Advisory” specifically for Civil Defense agencies in Hawaii saying: AN EVALUATION OF THE PACIFIC WIDE TSUNAMI THREAT IS UNDERWAY AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT HAWAII COULD BE ELEVATED TO A WATCH OR WARNING STATUS. IF TSUNAMI WAVES IMPACT HAWAII THEIR ESTIMATED EARLIEST ARRIVAL TIME IS 0214 AM HST THU 16 AUG 2007 That later was canceled, as shown in this timeline.

Quake-Related Message Sequence:

1:40 p.m. HST – a shallow earthquake hits off the Peru coast.
1:53 p.m. HST -- PTWC issues Information Bulletin, says earthquake measured 7.5 magnitude and that quakes this size "sometimes generate local tsunamis...," advises authorities in region to take appropriate action.
1:54 p.m. HST – PTWC issues Information Statement, says: BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII. REPEAT. A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.
2:19 p.m. HST – PTWC issues its Expanded Regional Warning, upgrades quake to magnitude 7.9.
2:20 p.m. HST – PTWC issues its Tsunami Advisory to Hawaii agencies noting that a Watch or Warning could be declared.
3:26 p.m. HST -- PTWC issues an Expanding Regional Warning Supplement that says: SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. WE HAVE OBSERVED A TSUNAMI SIGNAL ON THE DEEP OCEAN GAUGE OFF NORTHERN CHILE.
3:29 P.M. HST -- PTWC issues Tsunami Advisory Supplement to Hawaii agencies repeating the potential for a Watch or Warning here.
4:09 p.m. HST -- PTWC issues a somewhat confusing and incomplete Tsunami Warning and Watch Cancellation and says its bulletin APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. It specifically cancels the Warning and Watch for Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and the other nearby countries. The potential for a Watch or Warning in Hawaii is not mentioned in this Bulletin except obliquely in the "within and bordering the Pacific Ocean" phrase. Despite the cancellation, this Bulletin again notes that sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated; however, there are no reports of a tsunami striking any shores at this time.
4:12 p.m. HST -- the PTWC issues its Final Tsunami Advisory canceling all warnings and watches and advisories on the potential tsunami. (However, this message is not posted on the PTWC website for at least an hour.)
4:15 p.m. HST -- the NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issues a "Final Tsunami Advisory" on its website noting that no tsunami watch or warning is in effect for the West Coast of North America. The Advisory says: "The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii has concluded its investigation of this event and is issuing a final message for areas outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska.
5:00 p.m. HST -- TV news reports the Hawaii "alert" has been cancelled.
5:15 to 5:30 p.m. HST -- the PTWC website catches up with earlier messages and posts three that are approximately one hour old, including the one referenced in the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center's 4:15 message, above.
As of 5:55 p.m. HST, an email from the PTWC has not been received noting the cancellation of the advisory for Hawaii that was issued at 4:12 p.m.

Snail Mail Email

CHORE has to wonder why the website and email communication links seem to have lagged as much as this timeline indicates. First indications are that these channels were not timely and need work. More to follow.