California Coastal Town Reports $1 Million in Damage From Tsunami Waves

A dock in Crescent City harbor was not able to withstand the high waves, according to the harbormaster.

The harbor in Crescent City, Calif., suffered about $1 million in damages from a July 30, 2025, tsunami, according to local officials. Crescent City Harbor

A small California coastal city, known locally as “tsunami central,” suffered about $1 million in damage after recording the biggest tsunami waves in the continental United States on July 30.

Crescent City recorded waves measuring up to four feet at about 2:40 a.m. after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Far East region.

The quake triggered tsunami warnings across the northern Pacific Ocean and extended from Alaska to New Zealand.

Crescent City Harbor reported an estimated $1 million in damage from the tsunami after the waves damaged a dock. The powerful waves lifted a dock’s floating concrete decking, and the structure was not able to accommodate the movement, according to the harbor. The harbor’s floating decks became stuck on pilings and were submerged, resulting in separation and structural failure.

The potable water lines and large-diameter fire suppression plumbing lines were ripped apart across many docks, according to Mike Rademaker, CEO and harbormaster.

Electrical, water, and fire suppression systems in other areas of the harbor were also damaged, he said.

“The full extent of damage remains difficult to assess due to water turbidity and the need for diver crews to make detailed observations,” Rademaker told The Epoch Times on Aug. 1 via email.

Initial repair costs are based on structural failures, environmental permitting requirements, and the complexity of underwater repairs, the harbormaster said.

“The Harbor District is actively working with local, state, and federal partners to secure resources for recovery and ensure safe restoration of affected infrastructure,” Rademaker said in a statement on Aug. 1.

No loose, drifting, or damaged boats were found after the event. During one of several recurring water surges, multiple fishing boats tried to return to port but were turned away by the U.S. Coast Guard as a safety precaution, according to the harbor.

The tsunami also deposited sediment and debris throughout the harbor basin. Preliminary reports show that navigation channels and vessel berthing areas were also affected. Operators expect to dredge the area to restore the original depths to ensure that the harbor remains fully navigable, Rademaker said.

The harbor in Crescent City, Calif., had about $1 million in damage caused by waves after a July 30, 2025, tsunami, according to local officials. Crescent City Harbor

The July 30 waves in Crescent City did much less damage than the tsunami that struck the city in 1964. Twelve people were killed when a magnitude 9.2 earthquake off the coast of Alaska triggered a 20-foot surge that flooded 29 city blocks of the coastal town, according to the California Department of Conservation.

Another tsunami in 2011 caused $50 million in damage to the harbor, officials reported. Many parts of the harbor were reconstructed to meet modern tsunami-resilient standards.

The city is located about 20 miles south of the Oregon border. Since 1933, at least 32 tsunamis have been observed in Crescent City, according to the University of Southern California’s Tsunami Research Center.

The full extent of damage to the harbor in Crescent City, Calif., after the tsunami is difficult to assess on July 30, 2025, according to local officials. Crescent City Harbor

The Del Norte County Office of Emergency Services, which covers Crescent City, stated that it was thankful that the community made it through the event.

“Over the past few days, as we navigated through this tsunami event together, we witnessed the incredible strength, unity, and resilience of the Del Norte County community,” the department posted on Facebook on July 31. “We have once again proven that when times are tough, we show up for one another. Way to go, Del Norte!”

There were no reported injuries in Crescent City caused by the July 30 tsunami, officials reported.

In other parts of the Pacific, tsunami waves reached Hawaii at about 7:30 p.m. local time on July 29. There were waves as high as four feet at Haleiwa on Oahu’s northwest shores and at Kahului Beach on Maui.

According to records, these were the highest tsunami waves in open water ever recorded in the Northern Pacific at Midway Atoll.