By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

A powerful undersea earthquake sent Alaskans fumbling for suitcases and racing to evacuation centers in the middle of the night after a cellphone alert early Tuesday warned that a tsunami could smash into the state's southern coast and western Canada.

The killer wave never materialized, but people endured several tense hours in shelters, waiting for a potential catastrophe that they feared could wipe away their communities at any moment.

The magnitude 7.9 quake in the Gulf of Alaska triggered the jarring alert that awoke people shortly after midnight. Fleeing motorists sometimes clogged the only highway out of their towns in the rush to get to higher ground. Many took refuge at schools and other shelters.

Oregon, Washington, California and Hawaii were under tsunami watches.

The ordeal prompted the American Red Cross to issue a list of safety tips for those who live in coastal areas. You can find the entire list online; some tips are excerpted below.

Don't Edit

Before a tsunami

Establish whether your home and other places you frequent are in tsunami hazard areas.





Know how high above sea level your street is and how far it is from the coast. Evacuation orders may be based on those figures.









Cobble together an emergency supplies kit

Plan your escape and evacuation routes. From the Red Cross: "If possible, pick areas 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level or go as far as 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland, away from the coastline. If you cannot get this high or far, go as high or far as you can. Every foot inland or upward may make a difference. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes."





Practice evacuating.





Know your children's school evacuation plans and figure out how to get them.





Tourists should get familiar with evacuation information.

Don't Edit

There are several types of #tsunami messages: Watches, Warnings, Advisories, and Information Statements. Do you know what each means and what you should do if one is issued for your location? Find more info about being prepared at https://t.co/2WielF3Kma (@FEMA) #orwx #wawx pic.twitter.com/xcVPxzcVYI — NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) January 23, 2018

During a tsunami

If there's an earthquake while you are on the coast and indoors, drop, cover and hold on. If you're outside, stay away from falling objects.

When the shaking is over, move quickly to inland, higher ground. Go on foot if you can. Stay there until officials say it's all clear.

Bring your animals if you evacuate. Bring your preparedness kit.

Listen to official sources such as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio or the U.S. Coast Guard emergency frequency station if a tsunami watch has been issued.

Don't Edit

After a tsunami

Tell family and friends you're OK.

Keep tuned in to official information sources or local media.

Don't assume the danger is over after the first wave. The next one might be bigger.

Call authorities if someone needs to be rescued.

Help people such as the elderly, infants and people with disabilities.

Stay away from disaster zones and out of buildings that have water around them.

Be cautious when re-entering buildings and cleaning up.

Don't Edit

Read more

— Staff and wire reports

Don't Edit