The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services thinks: maybe. At Mad River Beach. In the form of the thing above — a soda pop bottle, perhaps?
But don’t freak, please, because it’s not likely to be any more radioactive than your average soda pop, according to a handy fact sheet produced by the Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group. Did you know that the tsunami trash is expected to arrive on the North Coast in force in 2013, and that it’s probably going to keep washing up for years?
Press release from the Sheriff’s Office:
The Humboldt County Sheriffs Office is receiving reports of possible debris from the Japanese Tsunami that occurred in March 2011 washing up on area beaches. Please refer to the attached informational sheets on Japan Tsunami Marine Debris for specific information.
Just because debris is on the beach, does not necessarily mean it came from Japan. The North Coast is a natural repository for flotsam and jetsam due to ocean currents.
The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services reminds the public that large earthquakes and tsunamis can strike the North Coast at any time, and persons in low lying areas or visiting our beaches should be aware of their location and the evacuation routes to safety.