PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Tuesday night, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake centered off the east coast of Russia prompted warnings of a tsunami for parts of Alaska and Hawaii, and while it looks like the worst threat has passed, concern is still there 24 hours later.
10 On Your Side spoke to a woman in Hawaii with a connection to Hampton Roads who said she was concerned at the time, and will continue to keep a watchful eye.
“First of all I took it seriously because my dad is [WAVY chief meteorologist-emeritus] Don Slater, so when he texts me and he’s concerned, then I’m concerned,” Waikiki resident Lilly Slater said.
Lilly Slater, raised in Norfolk, said one text from her dad got her attention, and so did the activity around her home in Waikiki.
“It was confusing, chaotic,” Lilly Slater said. “We would hear sirens every hour in the afternoon. We would be getting alerts on our phone.”
This all happened after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia Tuesday, sending the possibility of tsunami waves into Japan, the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii. For many, it was there first time experiencing such an event. There were evacuations in place with hundreds trying to get on higher ground that led to gridlock on the road.
“We’re thankful that we left,” she said. “Even though it ended up not being a tragedy, it could’ve been. What if our building collapsed?”
Thankfully, emergency officials gave the all clear by Wednesday afternoon. Lilly Slater said things were business as usual Wednesday, but she hopes people continue to take tsunami watches and warnings seriously.
“We’re all having a watchful eye,” she said. “I think we’re going to be watching the news a little bit more.”
She adds that one of the main takeaways for everyone is to make sure you have weather alerts on your phone no matter where you are.