President Obama has put the Federal Emergency Management Agency on high-alert to help Hawaii and other coastal areas in the United States and its territories that could be affected after a massive, 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit 80 miles off the coast of Japan Friday morning triggering a devastating Tsunami.
Hawaii and the Pacific Basin except the mainland United States and Canada are bracing themselves for the worst Friday morning, according to the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Hawaii is under an order to evacuate all coastal areas, including all of Honolulu and its famed tourist hub, Waikiki beach.
Hawaii’s civil defense agency ordered all coastal areas, including the main tourist hub Honolulu, evacuated by 2 a.m. local time or 7 a.m. EST. The first tsunami wave was expected to reach Hawaii at 3 a.m. local time or 8 a.m. east coast, Reuters reported.
White House Chief Of Staff Bill Daley notified the President around 4am EST, according to the release.
“Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunamis,” Obama said in a statement issued this morning. “The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial. The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakeable, and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they overcome this tragedy.”
“We will continue to closely monitor tsunamis around Japan and the Pacific going forward and we are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials as I have instructed FEMA to be ready to assist Hawaii and the rest of the US states and territories that could be affected.”
