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Published: March 21, 2011
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In Crescent City, CA, the city’s fishing harbor has been nearly totally lost to the tsunami that originated from Japan’s 8.9 earthquake. "Despite all we did to mitigate the problems," Harbormaster Robert Young told his somber audience at the County administrative offices, "the harbor is destroyed. We're facing not only physical but financial disaster," said Young to residents and elected officials during an early briefing. "Our business activity came to a screeching halt yesterday, and that affects the entire community."
The city struggled with conflicting emotions Saturday: relief that the damage wasn't greater, survivor's guilt ("Those poor people in Japan!" was a common refrain), pride that disaster planning had paid off and fear of the economic hit and looming reconstruction. Fortunately, the majority of the harbor's commercial fishing boats had sailed to safety, warned that waves could reach heights rivaling the 1964 tsunami, which killed 11, destroyed the harbor and leveled a large swath of downtown. On Saturday morning, the remaining vessels listed in the churning harbor. At least eight had sunk. A sheen of oil coated the water.
The city rebuilt after the 1964 tsunami, but in 2006, a tsunami generated by a different earthquake in Japan damaged the harbor again. A $20-million reconstruction was in the works when the latest disaster hit, wiping out what Young called the "bridge" harbor that had allowed the fishing industry to continue over the last five years. "There are no serviceable docks in the harbor," Young said. "The majority of our business fleet went to Eureka. They're not coming back soon. We need some help soon.... We don't have a fishing industry in Del Norte County this morning."
The Friends of the Coast Guard Auxiliary have agreed to accept any donations for the Crescent City fishermen that have been hurt by the tsunami and to disburse the funds to best help them.
Please send checks to:
Friends of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Inc.
484 Meridian St
Crescent City, Ca 95531
source: FishLink Sublegals
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Published: March 21, 2011
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EmailIn Crescent City, CA, the city’s fishing harbor has been nearly totally lost to the tsunami that originated from Japan’s 8.9 earthquake. "Despite all we did to mitigate the problems," Harbormaster Robert Young told his somber audience at the County administrative offices, "the harbor is destroyed. We're facing not only physical but financial disaster," said Young to residents and elected officials during an early briefing. "Our business activity came to a screeching halt yesterday, and that affects the entire community."
The city struggled with conflicting emotions Saturday: relief that the damage wasn't greater, survivor's guilt ("Those poor people in Japan!" was a common refrain), pride that disaster planning had paid off and fear of the economic hit and looming reconstruction. Fortunately, the majority of the harbor's commercial fishing boats had sailed to safety, warned that waves could reach heights rivaling the 1964 tsunami, which killed 11, destroyed the harbor and leveled a large swath of downtown. On Saturday morning, the remaining vessels listed in the churning harbor. At least eight had sunk. A sheen of oil coated the water.
The city rebuilt after the 1964 tsunami, but in 2006, a tsunami generated by a different earthquake in Japan damaged the harbor again. A $20-million reconstruction was in the works when the latest disaster hit, wiping out what Young called the "bridge" harbor that had allowed the fishing industry to continue over the last five years. "There are no serviceable docks in the harbor," Young said. "The majority of our business fleet went to Eureka. They're not coming back soon. We need some help soon.... We don't have a fishing industry in Del Norte County this morning."
The Friends of the Coast Guard Auxiliary have agreed to accept any donations for the Crescent City fishermen that have been hurt by the tsunami and to disburse the funds to best help them.
Please send checks to:
Friends of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Inc.
484 Meridian St
Crescent City, Ca 95531
source: FishLink Sublegals
Submit Article