Weather Service Assures North Dakotans There Is ‘No Threat’ of Tsunami in Landlocked State

The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, North Dakota assured North Dakotans there was “no threat” of a tsunami in the landlocked state on Tuesday.

After a social media user asked, “where is the tsunami warning for Fargo, apparently people are searching for this,” the National Weather Service Grand Forks advised, “There is no threat for tsunami impacts in North Dakota. If you are in a coastal area under threat however check https://tsunami.gov for up to date information and with local officials for any evacuation orders.”

“The fact this needed to be said is wild,” reacted Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin, while meteorologist Chris Martz questioned, “North Dakota is between 750 and 3,506 feet above sea level and its westernmost point is about 950 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Are people there seriously that dumb that they think a tsunami could impact them?”

The Honolulu Department of Emergency Management advised Hawaiians to get to buildings “at least 10 stories” tall on Tuesday after warning that a tsunami was expected to hit around 7:17 pm local time.

Tsunami advisories were also issued along the West Coast, from Port Angeles in Washington state to San Diego, along with the U.S. Pacific territories of Guam and American Samoa.

“Due to a massive earthquake that occurred in the Pacific Ocean, a Tsunami Warning is in effect for those living in Hawaii,” wrote President Donald Trump in a social media post. “A Tsunami Watch is in effect for Alaska and the Pacific Coast of the United States. Japan is also in the way. Please visit https://tsunami.gov for the latest information. STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!”