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Crescent City, near the Oregon border, appears to have suffered significant damage to its harbor. "Del Norte County sheriff's spokesman Bill Stevens says most boats were pulled out of the harbor in preparation for Friday's tsunami, but 35 vessels that remained are crashing into one another and sinking," AP reports. "The wooden docks also are breaking apart under the force of the waves." The waves have so far not breached the town's breakwater. Crescent City's waterfront was severely hit after the 1964 earthquake in Alaska, the only North American quake in recorded times to be more powerful than last night's 8.9 in Japan. The marina at Santa Cruz has also seen some boats break loose and crash into docks and other boats. There was a perceptible water drop in Monterey Bay before the tsunami arrived. In San Francisco, officials closed upper and lower Great Highway from Point Lobos and 48th Avenue to Lake Merced, and the National Park Service closed Ocean Beach, Baker Beach, China Beach and Fort Funston.
Tweet from Gov. Jerry Brown's account: "Our thoughts are with the people of Japan. Californians on the coast can stay informed here: http://www.calema.ca.gov/"
Noon update: KDRV-TV reported that four people were washed out to sea in Crescent City. Three were hurt and one is feared dead. Local residents reported that about three dozen boats were "crushed" in the harbor and that surging waters significantly damaged or destroyed most of the docks. U.S. 101 is closed.