Calif. governor declares state of emergency in 4 counties

March 12, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

McClatchy Newspapers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

The tsunami warning for the California coast has been downgraded to an advisory after a day of tidal surges that resulted in one death and severe damages to harbors and marinas.

Areas under the advisory may see strong currents or waves that are dangerous to anyone in or very near the water, but widespread inundation is not expected.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday afternoon declared a state of emergency in Del Norte, Humboldt, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties.

In Del Norte County, a 25-year-old man has been confirmed dead after being swept into the Pacific Ocean Friday morning near the mouth of the Klamath River.

The man and two friends were taking photographs of the incoming tsunami waves.

Joey Young, a spokesman for the Del Norte County emergency operations center, said the man’s name has not been released and it has not been determined whether he was a local resident, but he had been in the area about two weeks. Young said Friday afternoon that no other people had been reported missing or injured in the area.

About 30 boats as well as docks and moorings in the Crescent City harbor were damaged, and the area was continuing to see surges, which have ranged from 3.7 feet to 8.1 feet, Young said. Highway 101 was closed in both directions through Crescent City and traffic was being diverted to local streets.

Santa Cruz County officials estimate that the tsunami that hit that county’s coast about 7:45 a.m. PST caused in excess of $2 million damage to the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor.