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On this coast the earthquake is the warning. The natural signs, what to do during and after the shaking, where the high ground is, and who to follow — built from the District of Tofino's evacuation guide. Not a live alert.
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A strong or long quake means a tsunami may be 15 minutes away — there's no time to wait for a siren, an app, or this page. This explains the natural warning, what to do, and where the high ground is. It is not a live alert.
If the ground shakes hard, or for a long time — go to high ground on foot, now.
On this coast the earthquake is the warning. A strong or long quake means a tsunami can reach Tofino's shore in as little as 15 minutes. Drop, cover and hold on until the shaking stops, then walk inland and uphill to higher ground. Don't wait for the siren, a phone alert, or anyone to tell you to go. Don't drive if you can walk — quakes bring down trees and power lines and block the road.
Two questions. There is no other check to make — if both are yes, go now.
Drop to your hands and knees before the shaking knocks you down.
Cover your head and neck; get under something sturdy if it's close, and hold on.
Stay put until the shaking fully stops — most injuries come from moving during the quake.
The moment the shaking stops, go — on foot, inland and uphill to the nearest assembly area.
Walk, don't drive, if you can. There's one road off the peninsula and a quake can block it with trees and debris; people on foot keep moving when cars can't.
Take only what you can grab in seconds. Don't go back for belongings, and don't go down to the beach to watch.
Help children, older neighbours and anyone who needs it — but keep moving uphill.
Keep climbing until you're above the marked tsunami zone. The first wave is often not the biggest, and waves keep coming for hours.
The safe line — about 20 m above the sea — get above the marked tsunami zone
From the beaches and the harbour, head inland and uphill, away from the open water, and keep going until you're well above the marked zone. The District's evacuation map shows the assembly areas and the way to them for each part of the peninsula; the Community Hall at 351 Arnet Road — the emergency reception centre — sits on the 20-metre line.
Your nearest marked assembly area
The official map marks assembly areas inland and uphill — about 20 metres above the sea for a local tsunami. Head to the nearest one and wait there; don't pick a spot by eye.
Tofino Community Hall — 351 Arnet Road
On the 20-metre line, this is also the town's emergency reception centre. If it's safe to reach, the District asks people to go there.
The beaches and the low shore
Long Beach, Cox Bay, Chesterman, Mackenzie and Tonquin, the harbour and the low streets nearest the water are inside the tsunami zone. From any beach, the rule is simple: turn your back to the sea and move inland and uphill.
The single road on and off the peninsula
Highway 4, the Pacific Rim Highway, is the one way out by car and runs low in places. After a big quake, expect it blocked — plan to move on foot to nearby high ground, not to drive out.
Check your own spot on the official map
Whether your exact street, or the beach you're on, is in the zone is a question for the District's evacuation map, linked below — it's the authority, not this list.
The Cascadia Subduction Zone offshore last ruptured along its full length in January 1700, sending a tsunami all the way to Japan; the next great Cascadia quake is a matter of when, not if, and it will give this coast only minutes. Tofino sits low on an exposed peninsula with one road out, so the plan that saves lives is the one you can do on foot: when the ground shakes hard, go up.
Stay on high ground until officials say it's over
District of Tofino — Emergency Program
The District's emergency program — the local authority for evacuation and the all-clear
Voyent Alert!
The District's official emergency notification — free alerts by text, email, phone and app
Outdoor tsunami sirens
The peninsula's warning sirens — Cox Bay, North and South Chesterman
What this page is, and what it is not
Town Tools builds free, public tools for Tofino and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.
EmergencyInfoBC
Live provincial emergency information for British Columbia
U.S. Tsunami Warning System (tsunami.gov)
The official tsunami warnings for B.C. come from the National Tsunami Warning Center and are broadcast to phones through Alert Ready
PreparedBC — Tsunami guide
British Columbia's tsunami preparedness guide
District of Tofino — Tsunami Safety Guide & Evacuation Map — The authority on the hazard zones, the assembly areas at 10 and 20 metres, and the way to them — with the District's siren and alert details.
If it shakes hard or long on the coast
Evacuate on foot to high ground — about 20 m above the sea