What to Do with Japan’s Tsunami Debris

By Brendan Cowan, Director
San Juan County Department of Emergency Management

As time passes after the March 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, there is increasing attention being paid to the issue of tsunami debris washing onto Washington State beaches.

Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and WA State Department of Ecology (DOE) have taken the lead on advising local communities on the issue. The science and understanding of how the debris might impact coastal counties is still evolving, but a few key points seem clear at this stage:

• There is not thought to be a massive debris field. Any debris that does arrive will likely be widely scattered and is more likely to turn up on the outer coast than the inland waters of the Salish Sea. However it is likely that some debris will make it to local shores, and some reports suggest some may have already.
• It is highly unlikely that any debris will pose a radioactive risk.
• It does appear that highly bouyant objects like floats, balls, etc. are already making their way to the Pacific NW at this time, but it is expected that the majority of debris won’t arrive until late 2012 or beyond.

Several resources are available to educate coastal residents about what to do if they find something that looks like possible tsunami debris, including:

What to Do if You See Debris? A flyer that can be posted at shorelines or distributed to those working or recreating on the shoreline.

Frequently Asked Questions: Japan Tsunami Debris

Further questions? Don’t hesitate to contact the San Juan County Department of Emergency Management at dem@sanjuandem.net or 370-7612.