By Jason Islas
Staff Writer

June 26, 2013 -- The ocean offers many perks to residents living in Santa Monica, like ocean breezes, sublime sunsets and panoramic views of seemingly infinite azure seascapes.

But around the bayside city's frequently visited beaches and world-famous Santa Monica Pier, there are signs that remind residents and tourists alike of a very real danger that goes hand-in-hand with coastal living: the possibility of tsunamis.

Santa Monica's comprehensive tsunami preparedness plan received recognition from the National Weather Service Tuesday. But just how much of a threat is a tsunami to the seaside town where thousands flock every summer?

“We could expect, in the worst case, ankle deep water on Main Street,” said Paul Weinberg, Santa Monica's Emergency Services Coordinator. “We are in a good position geologically as far as tsunamis are concerned.

“The geologists at USC and USGS (US Geographical Survey) have told us that 20 feet is what we could expect in a worst case,” he said.

That dwarfs in comparison to the waves that reportedly reached more than 100 feet during 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that left thousands dead and caused a nuclear meltdown at a power plant. That tsunami was generated by one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded in the last 100 years.

“We don't have the same earthquake potential off our coast as Japan does,” Eric Boldt, with the National Weather Service, told The Lookout. “The biggest threat locally would be something like a land slump” or “something crashing into the water.”

A map of Santa Monica on the City's Office of Emergency Management website shows exactly which parts of Los Angeles' beachside Mecca would be affected by a 30-foot surge in the sea level. “Our tsunami map reflects an abundance of caution,” Weinberg said.

A blue strip of shading on the map -- representing the theoretical “inundation zone” -- colors all of the beach, up to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) stopping abruptly at the Palisades Bluffs.

“If you're north of the Pier,” said Weinberg, “no wave is going to go above the bluffs, which are 100 feet tall.”

But there are dozens of single-family homes west of PCH in the shadow of the bluffs that could be hit by a tsunami.

In the event of a major earthquake or tsunami warning, those residents would want to evacuate by foot, Weinberg said, to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

In most cases, those who could get to the pedestrian foot bridge that connects Palisades Park to the beach would be out of harm's way, Weinberg said.

South of the Pier, the blue shading juts farther inland, covering Ocean View Park, the Sea Colony and the twin high-rises known as the Santa Monica Shores along with all the neighborhoods west of Main Street.

“Those buildings aren't going to wash away,” Weinberg said, referring to the twin towers that make up the Santa Monica Shores. “If you were on one of the highrises, you could just go to a higher floor,” he said.

The theoretical surge would stop short of Main Street, according to the City's map.

Tsunamis would “have to travel over so much land to even get to the built environment, they would lose so much of their strength and energy,” he said. He added that the length of Santa Monica's coast would also disperse the force of a tsunami's impact.

However that's not true for Santa Monica's more low-lying neighbor, Venice, where a 30-foot surge could wash as far inland as Lincoln Boulevard.

Boldt said that Santa Monica's plan meets the NWS's requirements for “tsunami-ready” status.

The City has gone to lengths to make sure that, in the event of a tsunami, residents know what to do and where to go. The map, which shows evacuation routes and safe zones, is complimented by signs in tsunami danger zones that point to the quickest and safest way out.

In Santa Monica, “you may hear that a tsunami warning is being issued by a radio, television, telephone, text message, door-to-door contact by emergency responders or a NOAA weather radio,” according to the Office of Emergency Management website.

The website also includes a comprehensive list of steps residents can take to be ready in the event of a tsunami and warning signs that a surge could be coming.

The City's plan -- like the map of the projected inundation zone -- also demonstrates an abundance of caution. “There's no historical data of any significant tsunami ever,” said Weinberg, referring to Santa Monica's coastline.

In 2011, there were minor disturbances caused by the Japanese tsunami, but nothing significant, he said.

Even so, residents should “have a kit, have a plan and be informed,” Weinberg said.