Massive 8.8 Earthquake in Russia Sparks Tsunami Warnings Across Pacific, Exposes Critical Gaps in U.S. Preparedness

On an early Wednesday morning, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula—one of the strongest tremors recorded globally since the catastrophic 2011 Japan quake—and sent tsunami waves rippling across the northern Pacific. While residents of remote Russian settlements hastily evacuated to higher ground with few injuries reported so far, the ripple effects reached all the way to American shores. How Prepared Is America for Pacific Disasters? The tsunami warnings issued for Alaska, Hawaii, and much of the U.S. West Coast—including Oregon, California, and Washington—are not mere precautions; they are urgent calls demanding robust action. Honolulu's sirens blared and residents scrambled...