Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Information

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, at 5:46 am Greenwich Mean Time on Friday, March 11, 2011. The earthquake triggered a Tsunami. Tsunami alerts were initially issued for coastal Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and the West Coast of the United States, and Mexico, among other locations worldwide. We are in the process of contacting NOLS bases in these operating areas, and will continue to update you via this blog as more information becomes available.

UPDATE 3/11/11 9:02 a.m. MT

We have the following preliminary information regarding NOLS courses operating in these areas.

New Zealand: Our personnel at NOLS New Zealand are aware of the Tsunami alert. Two New Zealand semester courses—NZS-1 and NZS-3—are currently in Marlborough Sound off the coast of South Island. Both courses will be checking coast guard reports on a daily basis, per their normal routine. The courses have not called into the NOLS Zealand base as of this time, as it is the middle of the night there. The New Zealand Civil Defence office has issued a Tsunami warning for the north end of North Island, and not South Island, where our courses are currently operating. The New Zealand Civil Defence website, http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/, contains relevant information regarding local Tsunami warnings.

Australia: Our courses are scheduled to go into the field on March 18. At this time, we have no reason to believe the Tsunami warnings will affect this plan.

Patagonia: Our personnel at NOLS Patagonia are aware of the Tsunami alert. We have two courses kayaking in Patagonia at this time: Semester in Patagonia JSPM-1/19/11 and the Chilean Kayak Course CKC. Both are in fjord environments. The Chilean Kayak Course called in this morning and reported they were well. They have been instructed not to kayak today. JSPM-1/19/11 is in Golfo de Elefantes, south of Fjordo Aysen. The Chilean Navy patrol is in the area and will approach the course. They expect to make contact around noon mountain time. NOLS Patagonia is in continuing contact with the Chilean Navy and the regional office of the Ministry of the Interior’s Public Safety Office, who will update on the status of the regional response plan for Chile.

Pacific Northwest: We have no courses operating in the coastal area of the Pacific Northwest at this time.

Mexico: Our personnel at NOLS Mexico are aware of the Tsunami alert. Three courses are currently operating in the Sea of Cortez: Spring Semester in Baja SSB-1/12/11 (sailing), Spring Semester in Baja SSB-1/19/11 (sea kayaking), and Baja Sea Kayaking BAJ-3/3/11 (sea kayaking). None of these courses is operating on the Pacific coast of Mexico, which is currently subject to the Tsunami warning. All are operating in the inner Gulf of California, or the Sea of Cortez.

UPDATE 3/11/11 12:20 p.m. MT

Mexico: Our NOLS Mexico personnel have contacted the Santa Rosalia Port Captain, who informed them that no official Tsunami warning has been issued for the Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez and that that they expect Tsunami effects, if any, to be minimal. The three courses currently operating in the Sea of Cortez are in an area where the bathymetry (sea floor topography) indicates less variation in tidal waves. Based on this information, we are continuing to monitor the tides closely but are not taking any additional measures.

New Zealand: Our NOLS New Zealand personnel have contacted the Marlborough District of the New Zealand Civil Defence office. They have issued an official statement that although a Tsunami Warning has been issued for the Marlborough coastal areas, there is no immediate threat to coastal communities. The officials will continue to update our personnel if the situation changes. NOLS New Zealand personnel have also contacted the Outward Bound office, which is located in Marlborough Sound. They indicated that a Marine Radio broadcast was issued this morning announcing that a 0.2 meter surge was expected around Marlborough Sound and urging boats to navigate with caution and be wary of strong and unusual currents and tidal movements. We expect that both NOLS courses currently in Marlborough Sound heard the same Marine Radio broadcast (per their standard protocol) and that they are aware of the situation. Based on this information, NOLS New Zealand is not taking any additional measures.

Patagonia: We have several courses in the field in Patagonia, but only two courses are currently sea kayaking: the Chilean Kayak Course (CKC) and the Fall Semester in Patagonia 1/19/11 (JSPM-1/19/11). CKC has already been contacted and is taking appropriate precautionary measures. The Chilean Navy is still in the process of making contact with JSPM-1/19/11. Below are the student and faculty rosters for these two courses.

UPDATE 3/11/11 2:20 p.m. MT

New Zealand: Semester in New Zealand 1/27/11 (NZS-1) has called into NOLS New Zealand’s base. This course is currently at Matai Bay Hut in Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough Sound. This course reported they have not yet felt the effects of the Tsunami, and that they were aware of the alert due to this morning’s Marine Warning that was broadcasted by radio. Based on the warning, they are laying over in their current location. The student and staff roster for NZS-1 and NZS-3 are below:

Mexico: NOLS Mexico has had further communication with the Santa Rosalia Port Captain, who reported that the main effect of the Tsunami was felt around 10:00 am PST and involved a slight drop in the tide. He also reported that there has been little effect on the Pacific coast of Mexico based on his conversation with the camps there. As a reminder, none of the three courses in the area are on the Pacific coast, but are in the Sea of Cortez. He expects NOLS Mexico’s courses will feel very little effect. At present, his office is advising vessels to be aware of a tide drop and not, for example, anchor over rocks. Our instructors are already aware of such precautions as part of their risk management protocol.

Furthermore, Spring Semester in Baja-1/19/11 (SSB 1/19) called into NOLS Mexico after hearing about the Tsunami warning from someone nearby. They are currently camping and did not feel anything unusual at sea. The student and staff roster for SSB 1/12, SSB 1/19 and BAJ are below:

UPDATE 3/11/11 3:26 p.m. MT

Patagonia: We have heard from both courses that are sea kayaking in Patagonia at this time. As mentioned before, CKC called this morning. They have taken appropriate precautions, and have called in again to confirm they are ok. JSPM 1/19/11 has also contacted NOLS Patagonia personnel and has confirmed they are ok. Both courses will take all appropriate Tsunami precautions. We will continue to monitor the situation in Patagonia, but will not be taking any further action at this time.

UPDATE 3/11/11 3:52 p.m. MT

Mexico: After analyzing effects of the Tsunami at other Pacific ports and countries, the coordinator of Proteccion Civil (Mexico’s governmental agency responsible for responding to natural disasters) reported to La Reforma, a major Mexico City newspaper, that it is unlikely Mexico will feel any significant impacts from the Tsunami. In any event, Proteccion Civil has closed Mexico’s Pacific ports to small water craft, and has closed the port at Manzanillo entirely, as Manzanillo historically has been affected by past Tsunamis.

None of the NOLS courses currently operating in Mexico are operating along the Pacific Coast. As indicated on the map below, all three courses are in the Sea of Cortez, and one course (SSB 1/19) has called in reporting no Tsunami-related effects.

UPDATE 3/11/11 6:00 p.m. MT

Patagonia: Both NOLS courses in the effected areas have moved to higher ground, about 30 meters above sea level as recommended by the Chilean Navy.

New Zealand: The United States Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has removed New Zealand from its list of countries where a tsunami warning is currently in effect.

Update 3/11/11 6:35 p.m. MT

New Zealand: We just received a phone call from NZS 3. They are all fine.

They were aware of the tsunami warnings and did not move today and will be staying at their same location tonight. They have no reports of unusual water movement or activity at their location in the Sounds.

Update 3/11/11 8:15 p.m. MT

Patagonia: Both NOLS courses have reported in again. They are all well and situated at least 30 meters above sea level.

Update 3/11/11 10:05 p.m. MT

Patagonia: Our staff in Chile just spoke with the Chilean Navy who reported that they have not noted any significant change in sea level in the region. Our courses remain at their locations 30 meters above sea level. The Navy anticipates canceling the tsunami alert in the next 1-2 hours. Barring any new information we will not be posting another update until tomorrow morning.

Update 3/12/11 7:50 a.m. MT

Patagonia: The tsunami alarm for Pto. Chacabuco (Aysén Fjord), where the two NOLS courses are seakayaking, has been lifted.

We have spoken with both courses this morning and both courses will call again before they paddle to confirm that their areas are cleared of all tsunami alerts and alarms.

The Chilean Navy, in speaking with our staff in the area indicated that the Aysén Region only experienced “changes in tide level” as the wave moved through, and that there was no damage here.