The North Coast was on tsunami alert Friday after the largest earthquake in Japans history hit.

Parts of Seaside and Gearhart were evacuated and people in Long Beach, Wash., were huddled in the old Ilwaco High School gym as residents left low-lying areas.

Among those leaving the Ocean Lodge in Cannon Beach for higher ground was a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and another celebrating their 20th.

The wave was expected to hit Astoria area about 7:15 a.m. and Seaside at 7:20 a.m.

Estimates on the potential wave height is 4 1/2 feet at Clatsop Spit, 3.7 feet at Cannon Beach, and 1.3 feet in Long Beach.

As the extent of the devastation in the Far East began to be evident, the emergency plans for the Oregon and Washington Coasts swung into action.

The National Weather Service said significant widespread inundation is imminent or expected.

Flooding, accompanied by a powerful current, is possible and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival, said a spokesman.

Oregon Emergency Management Duty Officer Abby Kershaw said information early Friday indicated a wave of more than 6 feet could reach Brookings in southern Oregon, while a wave of about 4 1/2 feet was predicted for northern Oregon’s Clatsop spit. The waves are expected between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

She says counties hope to keep assessing new information as they decide what to do to keep people safe. While some counties have siren and loudspeaker systems, she said, “nobody wants to set off sirens in the middle of the night” unnecessarily.

Seaside, Warrenton-Hammond and Ocean Beach schools and Long Beach Head Start and Neah-Kah-Nie were closed South Bend, Wash., were running two hours late. Astoria Superintendent Craig Hoppes said Astoria will run two hours late and that decision reviewed at 8 a.m. Morning Kindergarten is canceled. Star of the Sea is also running two hours late.

Clatsop County Emergency Services Manager Gene Strong said people in low-lying areas have all been notified about the possibility of being evacuated along the coast.

Those areas include Lewis and Clark, Gearhart, Surf Pines, and parts of Seaside, affecting an estimated 7,000 people. Strong said theyll have a better idea of what to expect after the tsunami hits Hawaii at 5 a.m.

Chief Bob Gross from Seaside Police department reminded the public that a tsunami is not just one wave, but a series of large waves. At this time, the tsunami wave height is estimated to be 2 to 4 feet.  

Persons in low-lying areas should move inland to higher ground by 6 a.m. The arrival time at Seaside is estimated to be 7:24 a.m. 

As a precautionary measure, the public is advised to stay away from the beaches and all low-lying areas adjacent to rivers and tidelands until at least 8 a.m.  

Please remain calm and evacuate in an orderly manner, he said.

Phone warnings in Long Beach from the Pacific County Emergency Management Agency warned residents to move to higher ground

The Ilwaco High School gym and Hilltop School are the assembly points for the lower Peninsula. Bill Tobin, principal, was on hand well before 4 a.m. setting things up.

The Pacific County Sheriffs Office said the wave could be between 1 and 10 feet.

Coastal regions historically prone to damage due to strong currents induced by tsunamis are at the greatest risk, said a spokesman. The threat may continue for several hours after the arrival of the initial wave.

Peninsula residents who need assistance with evacuation should contact the Pacific County emergency center at (360) 642-9341 or 875-9341. 

Gas was an issue as residents sought to leave the low-lying Peninsula. Just after 3:30 a.m. a line of cars stopped first at Pioneer Market north of  Long Beach then drove to the Texaco station in Seaview in search of gas, only to find the self-service pumps at both stations not accepting credit cards. A long line of cars and pickups formed at the Shell station in Seaview which did have functioning pumps.

Although the U.S. Highway 26 tunnel was opened, the Oregon State Police issued a travel advisory because of icy conditions reported on Highway 26 near the Coast Summit. 

Just before 4 a.m. the Oregon Department of Transportations rest area near milepost 35 was filled with travelers who ] left the coast. Other motorists are reportedly parking on highway shoulder in that area.

All travelers are reminded to be alert at all times and reduce your speeds to avoid losing control, said an OSP spokesman.

Tillamook County was activating its 911 callout system to residents and planned to sound sirens.