Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Del Norte County board approves state‑supported tsunami kiosks, authorizes up to $2,000 for permits
Summary
Emergency services staff told the board Del Norte may have only minutes to evacuate after a local earthquake‑generated tsunami; the board approved installation permitting and county installation costs up to $2,000 and directed staff to coordinate site‑specific maps and QR links to Know Your Zone.
Del Norte County on Feb. 1 approved limited county funding and staff authorization to support a state‑led tsunami signage kiosk project intended to improve evacuation awareness for residents and visitors.
Jessica Seaman, the county’s emergency services coordinator, told the Board that in a local earthquake scenario the community may have only minutes — not hours — to evacuate and that many visitors do not recognize tsunami hazards. The state is providing kiosk structures, graphic design and educational content; the county’s share is limited to permitting and installation costs. Seaman said each kiosk will include a site‑specific evacuation map and a QR code linking to Know Your Zone and Prepare Del Norte for more information.
Supervisor Starkey moved to approve using county general funds not to exceed $2,000 for permits and to authorize the county administrative officer to sign permit applications; the motion passed 5–0. Seaman said the goal is to have kiosks in the ground by summer and to place them in high‑traffic, high‑risk places such as beaches, the harbor, RV parks and visitor areas.
During public comment a resident recommended exploring modern alert systems that push geolocated evacuation instructions to cell phones and provide GPS directions to the nearest safe area. The board directed Emergency Services to proceed with site selection and permitting and to report back on the installation schedule.
