𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲
June 3, 2026 – Flagler County is poised to recognized “TsunamiReady” through the National Weather Service, with one of the last steps in the process being the installation of new signs at county beachfront parks.
“The signs are designed to make our residents and visitors aware of the potential risk of a tsunami impacting our coastline,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “An additional benefit for our county is that being recognized as a ‘TsunamiReady Community’ will potentially have a positive impact on the National Flood Insurance Program flood insurance rates.”
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a tsunami is one the most powerful and destructive natural forces. It is a series of waves (not just one) caused by a large and sudden displacement of the ocean. Tsunamis radiate outward in all directions from the disturbance and can move across entire ocean basins. Most tsunamis are caused by large earthquakes below or near the ocean floor, but tsunamis can also be caused by landslides, volcanic activity, certain types of weather and near-earth objects (e.g., asteroids, comets).
The NWS goes on the share that, while the threat posed by tsunamis is greatest along the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts, tsunamis are also possible on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
While it wasn’t officially a ‘tsunami,’ a large rogue wave suddenly appeared along the coast in the Daytona area in July of 1992. The wave was reportedly about eighteen feet tall above normal waves and stretched 27 miles long, from Ormond Beach to New Smyrna Beach. It was also reported that there were 75 people injured, and damage to cars parked near the coastline.
Lord said, “Signs are just one part of a project to get Flagler County recognized as TsunamiReady by the National Weather Service. A tentative date for the official recognition is penciled in for the August 3 regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.”
For more information on Tsunamis and all hazards that may impact our community, please visit
FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency or contact the Emergency Management Team at eoc@FlaglerCounty.gov or 386-313-4200.
Follow Flagler County Emergency Management on a variety of social media channels:
Instagram:
Instagram.com/FlaglerEOC
X (formerly Twitter):
Twitter.com/FlaglerEOC
Facebook:
Facebook.com/FlaglerEOC