JUNEAU — The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer issued, then canceled, a tsunami warning for the Kenai Peninsula and the shores of Cook Inlet following a Friday morning earthquake in Anchorage.
The warning center said no tsunami had been observed by 9:30 a.m., one hour after the earthquake, and it canceled the alert before 10 a.m.
In the 90-minute period when the warning was in effect, it spurred evacuations from low spots on the Kenai Peninsula.
In Homer, the city began evacuating all low-lying areas, including the Homer Spit.
“We’re evacuating the spit and all low-lying areas below 90 feet,” city spokeswoman Jenny Carroll said by phone about 9:20 a.m. “We are asking all of our residents to evacuate low-lying areas, and we have set up a shelter at our Homer High School.”
Carroll was following the guidance of the National Tsunami Warning Center and said officials in Homer expected any tsunami activity to begin about 15 minutes before noon.
The warning center had projected that any tsunami activity would reach Kodiak by 9:25 a.m., Seward by 9:30 a.m. and Homer by 11:45 a.m.
After the waves failed to materialize, the warning was canceled.
Related stories:
7.0 earthquake, aftershocks strike Southcentral Alaska; damage reported across region
Utilities will work through night to fix widespread gas leaks and outages after 7.0 earthquake
Inspections underway across Southcentral Alaska for structural damage after earthquake, aftershocks
At 8:29 Friday morning, everyone emerged from Alaska’s big earthquake with a story to tell
State seismologist: 'Emotionally disturbing' quake was Anchorage's most powerful since 1964
Federal disaster declared for Southcentral earthquake
‘I have nowhere to go': Those displaced by earthquake bide time at Anchorage emergency shelter
Here’s how you can help those still reeling from the earthquake
Earthquake rattles shelves and shatters products at Anchorage businesses
APD: Southbound Glenn Highway temporarily closed to allow rush-hour traffic north out of Anchorage
Injuries, road damage and gas leaks reported in Mat-Su after 7.0 earthquake
Wasilla water safe to drink, Anchorage residents asked to boil as a precaution
Photos: Earthquake damage from the air
Anchorage schools, many Mat-Su schools to be closed Monday and Tuesday
Photos: Ground-level views of the earthquake damage
Anchorage airport open again for arrivals after landings were halted due to earthquake
Tsunami warning canceled for Kenai Peninsula communities
Do you smell gas or hear hissing? Here’s how to shut off your gas after an earthquake
Oil and gas industry reports precautionary shutdowns, little earthquake damage
Earthquake information from public agencies, utilities and news staff
List of closures: Schools and services affected by Friday’s earthquake
State volleyball at Dimond on hold after earthquake; Alaska Airlines Center gym floor flooded
President Trump tweets encouragement to Alaska after earthquake