California Tsunami Hazard Area Maps and Data are prepared to assist cities and counties in identifying their tsunami hazard for tsunami response planning.
Selecting the map below opens it in a new window where you can explore your area of interest—zoom in, pan, and click (or tap) a coastal location to invoke a pop-up window that provides additional information and links. NOTE: there may be many results in the pop-up, depending on where you click. We recommend you zoom in to a specific area of interest before using the pop-up feature.
County-Specific Page Links
Other Tsunami Map Products
For GIS users
For GIS users, we offer the following links to our tsunami map shapefiles and ArcGIS REST services.
MyHazards by Cal OES
MyHazards by Cal OES provides a website where you can find out if you live within an area at risk of hazards from tsunamis, earthquakes, flooding, and fire.
About the Maps
California Tsunami Hazard Area Maps and Data are compiled with the best currently available scientific information and represent areas that could be exposed to tsunami hazards during a tsunami event. They are based on the State of California 2009 Tsunami Inundation Maps for Emergency Planning and enhanced high-resolution, 975-year return period probabilistic tsunami inundation model results. The boundaries of tsunami hazard areas are defined by the California Geological Survey. These limits have been extended to reflect potential local tsunami sources not considered in probabilistic analysis and are also modified to reflect the practical need to define limits that coincide with geographic features or city streets. Local stakeholders, including emergency managers, first responders, and subject matter experts, are consulted on the placement of the final hazard area in places that would help the public and government safely evacuate during a tsunami event. The following document explains the methodology for determining inundation and evacuation areas.
Disclaimer
California Official Tsunami Hazard Area Maps and Data are intended for local jurisdictional, coastal evacuation planning uses only. They are not legal documents and do not meet disclosure requirements for real estate transactions nor for any other regulatory purpose. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the University of Southern California (USC), AECOM Technical Services, and the California Geological Survey (CGS) make no representation or warranties regarding the accuracy of the maps nor the data from which the maps were derived. The State of California shall not be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or any third party on account of or arising from the use of these maps.
Copyright 2009-2022 State of California
How to cite California Tsunami Maps
When citing the maps in your research, please use the following format, entering the specific author(s), year, county name, and map date where indicated (omit the underline styling in your citation):
Author name(s), Year. Tsunami Hazard Area Map, County name County; produced by the California Geological Survey and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services; dated date on the map, mapped at multiple scales.
Back to the Tsunamis home page
Web page by:
California Geological Survey - Seismic Hazards Program
