California Official Tsunami Inundation Maps

Tsunami inundation maps for California cover most of the populated areas along the state’s coastline. Using the index map below or the list of counties, select your area of interest.

Click here to open the index map in a new window.

Tsunami Maps by County​

Maps for Selected Coastal Regions

• San Francisco Bay Area (2009)
  
• Humboldt Bay (2009)
  
• San Diego Bay (2009)
  

Interactive Tsunami Maps

• CGS Information Warehouse: Tsunami Inundation Maps shows inundation zones, and provides an alternate method to download the tsunami inundation maps.
• CGS Information Warehouse: Tsunami Evacuation Maps shows evacuation zones, and provides links to download tsunami evacuation maps. Currently, only Humboldt county is featured, but we'll be adding more in t​he coming months.
  
• Downloadable .kmz file of INUNDATION areas, for use in Google Earth.
  
• Downloadable .kmz file of EVACUATION areas, for use in Google Earth.
  
• MyHazards by Cal OES provides a website where you can find out if you live within an area at risk to hazards from earthquakes, flooding, fire, and tsunami inundation.
  

Mapping Methodology

Coordinated by Cal OES, California Official Tsunami Inundation Maps are developed for all populated areas at risk to tsunamis in California and represent a combination of the maximum considered tsunamis for each area. The following posters explain the methodology for determining inundation and evacuation areas.

• 2020 Inundation Map Methodology (PDF)
• 2009 Inundation Map Methodology (PDF)

How to cite California Tsunami Inundation Maps

When citing the tsunami inundation maps in your research, please use the following format (entering the specific map name, county name, and date on the map):

For 2020 maps:

State of California, 2020, Tsunami Inundation Map for Emergency Planning, (map name) Quadrangle, (county name) County; produced by California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California Geological Survey, and AECOM; dated (date on the map), mapped at 1:24,000 scale.

For 2009 maps:

State of California, 2009, Tsunami Inundation Map for Emergency Planning, (map name) Quadrangle, (county name) County; produced by California Emergency Management Agency, California Geological Survey, and University of Southern California – Tsunami Research Center; dated (date on the map), mapped at 1:24,000 scale.

Maps Disclaimer

California Official Tsunami Inundation Maps were prepared to assist cities and counties in identifying their tsunami hazard. They are intended for local jurisdictional, coastal evacuation planning uses only. These maps are not legal documents and do not meet disclosure requirements for real estate transactions nor for any other regulatory purpose. The California Geological Survey (CGS), the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the University of Southern California (USC), and AECOM Technical Services (AECOM) make no representation or warranties regarding the accuracy of these inundation maps nor the data from which the maps were derived. Neither the State of California, USC, nor AECOM shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or any third party on account of or arising from the use of these maps.