If the Ocean Suddenly Pulls Back, Run to High Ground

A rapid, unusual retreat of the waterline is the most reliable natural warning sign of an approaching tsunami. The sea may pull back hundreds of meters, exposing the ocean floor — this is not a curiosity, it's a countdown. You may have only minutes before the wave arrives. Don't stop for belongings, don't wait for others to move first. Run inland or uphill immediately — every meter of elevation counts. If you can't get to high ground, go to the highest floor of the sturdiest concrete building nearby.