Many Hawaiians obey the official advice to leave coastal areas, after a powerful earthquake thousands of kilometers near Russia led a Tsunami warning in the US state and other parts of the Pacific.
By Tuesday evening, the Pacific Tsunami -warning center said that waves were registered a few feet high on the islands of Maui, Oahu and Hawaii, where the capital is Honolulu.
“Urgent action must be taken to protect lives and property,” the center insisted, adding that the danger can last for hours.
Governor Josh Green told people in low -lying areas to stay calm and go to higher terrain, but later hit a hopeful tone and said that he still had to see a “wave of consequence” in the state.
He noted that roads were busy as people evacuated their homes.
Residents of Maui, who destroyed forest fires two years ago, belonged to those who moved to higher terrain.
Other areas on the west coast of the US – including California and Alaska – have made their own preparations while they are under a less tsunami advice from the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC).
An NTWC warning means that widespread floods are expected or act, while an advice indicates that there is a potential for strong currents or waves that can be dangerous.
Seismologist, Dr. Lucy Jones expected the waves to be able to damage ports and properties on the water in Hawaii – and possibly in California – but would not cause a catastrophic loss of life in America.
The highest waves can be a few feet high in Hawaii, Dr. Jones Op, but compared to 42ft (13m) during a deadly tsunami in Japan in 2011.
But many Hawaiians do not take any risks.
David Dorn told the BBC Taht that he was no stranger to Tsunami -warnings, which removed a block from the ocean in the coastal town of Kihei, on Maui, for 30 years. But he and his wife treated this differently.
“We try to take them all seriously, but most people take them a little slightly,” he said about the warning sirens that had been suspended since the first alert was published.
He and his wife had been evacuated to a higher site and were planning to spend the night in their van in a domestic shopping center.
Mr. Dorn said that before he left their house, he had moved his electronics to their loft, hoping that even if seawater invades the building, it would not reach the trusses.
His greatest concern was traffic, especially when electric poles fell and blocked roads.
“Traffic is always a problem, and it gets worse. And it's worst in every emergency situation like this,” he said.
Another resident of Maui, Roger Pleasanton, the BBC told that the traffic now “like New York City”.
“I would go to the supermarket, but I think I might have to skip the groceries and leave here,” he added.
While Maui prepared for the arrival of the waves, hiding places were opened and water facilities were eliminated to protect them against possible damage.
It was 10 years ago that Felicia Johnson, a lifelong resident of the island, fled out of a tsunami for the last time. Leave on Tuesday she again noticed that she was moving to higher terrain.
Mrs. Johnson, 47, had seen the water level deteriorate and then rise considerably – describe a pattern that is usually seen with tsunamis.
“It's creepy weird,” she shouted, packing her truck to spend a night with her family and friends in the mountains.
She compared the situation with the fire that hit Lahaina two years ago, destroying the island and his community.
“The only thing I can do is leave the house. I am leaving, so I am certainly afraid that something will come. But I mean, what can you cry for?
“We went through this with the fires, and there was no warning, and it was just so devastating. Now we have so much warning that if we don't go, it is our fault.”
