What you should do if you find tsunami debris on Washington’s shores
Mar 29, 2013, 8:23 AM | Updated: Apr 1, 2013, 7:27 am
In this Dec. 21, 2012 file photo provided by the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, scientists and others inspect a dock that floated up on a remote stretch of wilderness beach in northwestern Washington. (AP Photo/Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, File)
(AP Photo/Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, File)
Thousands of people are heading to the coast over the next few weeks for spring break, and they might encounter debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami. What should you do if you find something that might be from Japan?
Another small boat with Japanese writing on it washed up near Long Beach on the southwest Washington Coast 10 days ago. A large wooden temple arch washed up on the Oregon coast a few weeks ago. They are believed to be debris from the massive tsunami two years ago.
Curt Hart with the Department of Ecology said they’re expecting more and more debris to be arriving. “We get a lot of debris on our shores anyway, and now is the time we do get kind of an uptick in debris.”
If you find something unusual or something with Japanese writing on it as you walk the beach, Hart said you need to document it and tell someone. “NOAA would like to get pictures, a location and any kind of thing that would identify what it is, where it is and how big it is,” he said.
You should look for invasive species like gooseneck barnacles clinging to the debris that could hurt the local environment, and if the item looks to contain fuel or oil, Hart said, don’t touch it.
If you come across something that looks like it might be a personal item, be sure to pick that up and turn it in and document it as well. “A soccer ball was found last year within the Olympic National Park, and it actually had Asian writing on it and that soccer ball was traced back to a soccer club in Japan,” Hart said.
Hart said if you find a bunch of styrofoam or rope that could be tsunami debris but looks like garbage, pick it up and throw it away and leave the beach better than you found it.
You can contact NOAA with potential tsunami debris via email or at 855.922.9278.
