Public Tsunami Information Statement Number 1
NWS West Coast/ Alaska Tsunami Warning Center Palmer AK
603 PM AST TUE JAN 12 2010

....A strong earthquake has occurred but a tsunami is not expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico/ The Virgin Islands/ U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico States/ and Eastern Canadian Provinces...

No Warning... No watch and no advisory is in effect for these areas.

Based on the earthquake location - magnitude and historic tsunami records a damaging tsunami is not expected along the Puerto Rico/ Virgin Islands/ U.S. Atlantic/ Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico Coasts. Earthquakes of this size can generate destructive tsunamis along the coast near the epicenter. Authorities in the epicentral region should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.

At 553 PM Atlantic Standard Time on January 12, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.3 occurred in the Haiti Region.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach Hawaii will issue messages for areas in the Caribbean outside Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

This will be the only statement issued for this event by the West Coast/ Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless additional information becomes available. See the website wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov. for basic tsunami information - safety rules and tsunami travel times.