Photos: Inside the West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

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A map showing all the seismographic stations that feed information to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, with an alert highlighting a recent event in the Aleutian Islands. Jan 11, 2013

Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood in Palmer, Alaska, sits is a small, nondescript building. Were it not for the field of satellite dishes outside the building, it would be hard to gauge the importance of this federal government facility. Once inside, however, its mission becomes clear: This is where a small group of scientists monitor earthquakes, not just around Alaska, but for the entire continental United States, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. This is the West Coast-Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

When a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck near the town of Craig in Southeast Alaska just after midnight Jan. 5, there were two "watch standers" on duty, as there are at all times. Automatic alarms sounded, alerting the duo to a significant seismic event and prompting a rush of action. Using an array of data, drawing on their experience, and consulting a sophisticated computer model, they decided to issue a tsunami warning for Sitka. That warning prompted a city-wide evacuation, which was quickly called off when it became clear there was no tsunami. The center rarely issues warnings, but in this case the staffers felt the need to act quickly because of the magnitude of the earthquake and its proximity to other Southeast Alaska communities. Tsunami waves can travel 500 mph, so every second counts.

The West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center is open for free public tours every Friday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Call (907) 745-4212 to schedule a tour for large groups of six or more.