Locals Remember the 2011 Tsunami

As we've been reminding you all week, today is the . 

Over the last several days we've been collecting your memories of that day. See how your neighbors experienced March 11, 2011 below. 

Jana Meares: I went down to the area that is the three beaches of La Selva, New Brighton and Seacliff, and I saw some really wide and high waves, they seemed to advance onto the beach, but did not feel like a tsunami was on its way.

Alfredo Torres: I went ocean kayaking... No joke.

June Smith: I wasn’t in Santa Cruz, but the tsunami still affected me in a big way. I was on a Road Scholar trip to the remote San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja Sur to see the grey whales and their newborns. Over a period of three days we were to visit two lagoons, but authorities cancelled our third visit due to the tsunami. Later it was learned that the whales had not been affected, but of course the first priority was to exercise caution. All I could think of was how thankful I was that I didn’t go all that way and miss out completely!

Henry Carter: My wife Lisa and I were on a airplane taking a trip to Central America. We got to watch the footage on national news. Our hometown and just four blocks from our house in Seabright!

Roxanne: We were staying at a hotel near the Wharf putting in an offer for a Westside house. My husband went down to Steamers Lane to surf the tidal wave. He later admitted that it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but we still bought the house and moved to Santa Cruz.

Juliana Cheng: I just drove past the Murray Street overpass above the Yacht Harbor on my way to a bullying conference at Cocoanut Grove on March 11, 2011, when I heard on KSCO that there was a small tsunami heading towards Santa Cruz due to the 9.0 in Japan. The tsunami did finally came and damage the yacht harbor and some boats that damaged the yacht harbor under the overpass which I just passed. I was on my way driving towards the Boardwalk along East Cliff Drive when the tsunami hit Santa Cruz! When I got to near the wharf area, officers blocked all traffic and turned everybody around. However, I heard that speakers were allowed to speak at Cocoanut Grove anyway so attendees could watch the cablecast despite the tsunami warning which apparently left the Boardwalk intact in one piece!

What was March 11, 2011 like for you? Did you leave the area? Stay home? Check out the damage at the yacht harbor? Tell us in the comments!