A tsunami is a string of immense waves that
appear after earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, underwater landslides, and even asteroid impacts. The largest mega-tsunami wave ever recorded
was documented on July 9, 1958, in Lituya Bay, in Alaska. The height of the wave reached a stunning
1,720 ft. This situation is no joke, and as soon as
you find out that a tsunami is coming, you must act immediately to save your life. Here’s what you need to do right away. If you're on dry land:
- No matter whether you live near the coast or travel there for the weekend, you should
know the signs of an approaching tsunami. It might be a deafening roar that's coming
from the ocean, or some other unusual ocean behavior. For example, the water may suddenly drain,
showing the ocean floor, or, vice versa, a wall of water may appear on the horizon. - Also, pay attention to strange behavior
changes in animals. If they unexpectedly group together, hide
in different nooks, leave the area, or show extreme anxiety, these may be signs of an
approaching natural disaster. - As soon as you hear a tsunami alert, don't
wait for even a second - evacuate immediately! Leave behind your personal belongings and
documents; now is not the time to think about your possessions. Gather your loved ones and use any available
transport to get away from the coast: hop in your car, get on a bike, or simply run
as fast as you can. - Move as far away from the shore as you can,
heading toward high hills, mountains, or a forest. - If possible, go at least 2 miles inland
and 100 feet above sea level. If you're trapped by the rising water, choose
the highest and the most solid building, and climb to the top. It's not an ideal way out since the construction
can collapse under the force of the tsunami waves, but at least it’s something. - Also, keep in mind that roads often get
wiped out by tsunamis; therefore, after everything’s done, you may have trouble finding your way
back. - In most cases, tsunamis are closely linked
to earthquakes. That's why you should try to escape to open
areas with no or few buildings to avoid being hit by falling debris. - On top of that, stay away from power lines,
walls, bridges, and whatnot. Even if these constructions look sturdy enough,
they can collapse during the aftershock. - The whole time, pay attention to tsunami
warnings and evacuation orders. If you aren't in a tsunami hazard zone, stay
where you are and wait for further instructions. - Keep in mind that evacuation routes in potentially
dangerous areas are often marked by a special sign with a wave and an arrow on it. It points in the direction of higher grounds. - If you fall into the water, grab onto a
tree trunk, a door, or a raft - in short, find something that floats, and the sooner,
the better. - Even when you think that everything's over,
don't be too quick to relax. Tsunamis come in waves, and there may be dozens
of them. What's worse, every following wave might be
larger than the previous one, and they can last for hours. So, brace yourself for additional waves, aftershocks,
and a long, patient wait. - Try to find reliable information by listening
to radio updates. It's not the best idea to trust word of mouth;
otherwise, you might return too soon and get caught in more waves. - Remember that you need to survive not only
the tsunami itself, but its aftermath as well. Once the water goes down, you'll see tons
of potentially hazardous debris. Do NOT wade in floodwater since it may be
way deeper than it seems. - Don't forget about the risk of electrocution. The water can be electrically charged by damaged
underground power lines. Also, don't touch any electrical equipment
if you're standing in water, or if the thing itself is wet. - Don't come close to houses and other buildings
because, after the flooding, they’re likely to become unstable. Now if you're out at sea:
- If you've heard about an approaching tsunami when you're on a boat or a ship at sea, try
to move to deep water as fast as you can. The safest depth is 150 ft or more. - The thing is that in the open sea, tsunami
waves can reach a staggering length of hundreds of miles, but they’re usually no more than
several feet high. On the other hand, far from the shore, such
waves usually travel at a breakneck speed of up to 500 miles per hour. But when a wave is getting closer to the coast,
it slows down to 30 miles per hour and grows in height. - If you're a surfer, and a tsunami is nearing,
paddle toward the shore, and run toward the highest place you can spot. You might still have several precious minutes
until the tsunami hits the beach. - If a tsunami is drawing nearer while you're
far from the shore, paddle toward the horizon, to the deep sea. There, you might not feel the devastating
force of the tsunami waves that much; plus, you'll have a floatation device. Also, in the open sea, you won't have to worry
about being hit by debris. - Finally, if you've managed to paddle away
from the shore and are out of danger for the time being, don't hurry to return back to
the beach. Wait for at least a couple of hours - tsunamis
tend to last for a while. A tsunami’s waves can travel at a speed
of 20 to 30 miles per hour and reach a height of 10 to 100 feet. They can surge up to 10 miles inland and cause
catastrophic flooding, which damages all kinds of transportation and communication, and destroys
the fresh water supply. About 80% of all the tsunamis are born in
the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire," which is a seismically active zone with 452 volcanoes
and the world's largest number of earthquakes. Once a person gets swept away by a tsunami,
the chances they’ll make it out of this ordeal alive are slim to none. However, it's not totally impossible. The largest earthquake that’s ever been
recorded happened on May 22, 1960, off the coast of southern Chile, and its magnitude
was a bloodcurdling 9.5 on the Richter scale. Destructive mega-tsunamis caused by this earthquake
hit not only Chile, but also Hawaii, the Philippines, and Japan. By the time the earth had stopped shaking,
Denis García, who lived in the port town of Corral, in Chile, was still unaware of
the sheer force of the disaster. Not knowing that his relatives had already
reached higher ground, and were safe, the man was frantically searching for his family. That was when García noticed something bizarre. As he turned to look at Corral Bay, he saw
that all the water had retreated, and the seafloor was left bare. García had never observed such an intriguing
phenomenon before, and decided to investigate it closer. It turned out to be a near-fatal mistake. Distracted, the man hadn't noticed a huge
40-foot-high tsunami wave speeding up toward him until it was too late. What saved Denis García that day was a piece
of debris he managed to cling to. He spent hours being tossed by the raging
waves before he climbed onto the roof of a house that was floating past. Luckily, it saved the man, and he lived to
tell the tale. But remember that such a miraculous survival
story is one in a million. That's why, as soon as you hear about an approaching
tsunami, don’t waste any time, and follow the tips you've learned from this video. If you have any other recommendations that
can save your life in case of a tsunami, let me know down in the comments! If you learned something new today, then give
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