Tsunami Threat

PORT ALBERNI - On Vancouver Island -- Port Alberni knows tsunamis the best. The town was hit by a wall of water after an earthquake in Alaska in 1964. And when the warnings went out in the Alberni Valley this morning, schools were closed and people waited to see what would come up the inlet. The first indication that something is happening in the inlet comes at about 8:15 a-m - less a wave - more of a quick rise in the tide. Further down where the inlet meets the Somass River, people are noticing something strange - the up and down movement looked tidal, but was something more. By 1pm, 3 wave heights have been recorded in the inlet - at around 1 metre each - the remnants of a tsunami that's made its way across the pacific from the devastating earthquake in Japan. A tsunami advisory was put in place. A tsunami warning would have triggered a plan to move people out of harms way. No sirens, no forced evacuations, but schools in the district closed for the day. In March, 1964 - a major earthquake in Alaska triggered a tsunami that roared up the 80 kilometre Alberni Inlet. 375 homes were damaged - 55 of them swept into the sea. Miraculously no one was killed or injured. Memories of that day still fresh in the minds of people who were there. Follow Jonathan Bartlett on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/ANewsJonathan