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Tsunami Warning Signs Pop Up Along Coast
”Eventually, all coastal communities in California will have tsunami warning signs,” Troy Nicolini of the National Weather Service told the Redwood Times up north where many of the signs have been stolen, vandalized or damaged in the last five months. And now it appears they're starting to hit the Los Angeles area, according to the blogger at Good Story News who is not thrilled one bit:
TSUNAMI HAZARD ZONE? Now there's a good idea! Not RECREATION ZONE or BEACH VOLLEYBALL ZONE, but something sure to send a chill down the spine. And it was certainly good enough to scare the kids who were old enough to read, filling them with worry and dread as they stood on the wide expanse of beach and looked out toward the ocean. The signs are at every access road to the PCH from Santa Monica at least to Malibu and most likely farther along than that.
[snip]
The "LEAVING TSUNAMI HAZARD ZONE" is what gives away the game. It's one thing to post reminders for those approaching the beach. But is it really necessary to find an arbitrary point, a few dozen yards from the PCH, to post a sign to assure the hapless beachgoer, running from the approaching tide, that he's safe? Is that really the boundary of the TSUNAMI HAZARD ZONE? What if the person fleeing a tsunami sees the sign, stops running, and is sucked into the surf?
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There's a whole slew of sign design choices at the California Department of Transportation website. The design savvy blog NOTCOT found one of the versions to be "inspiringly adorable."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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