Facts about Tsunamis

• Tsunamis can travel at speeds of about 805 kilometers an hour.
• About 80% of tsunamis happen within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.”
• A Tsunami is usually a number of waves instead of just one.
•  A tsunami could cross the Pacific Ocean in only one day.
• Right before a tsunami hits shore, the coastal water is sucked away from the shore, which exposes the sea floor. This is a warning that the tsunami will hit within the next five minutes.
• The first wave to hit shore is not usually the strongest wave. The waves that follow grow progressively larger and gain more strength.
• The states in the U.S. at greatest risk for tsunamis are Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California.