Coastal San Mateo Co. residents rush to evacuate
Traffic was heavy along coastal roadways in San Mateo County Thursday. Many residents in towns along the coast evacuated after the earthquake and tsunami warning.
"Many of our residents decided to drive out of Half Moon Bay. Highway 92 was bumper to bumper. Highway 1 was bumper to bumper," said Half Moon Bay Mayor Joaquin Jimenez.
At one point in Half Moon Bay, sheriffs deputies shut down a portion of Highway 1.
Law enforcement urged people to get to higher ground.
"We quickly brought more resources to the coast because we know the vulnerability with tsunamis. So we had other resources right at the ready to come," said San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus.
One of those who evacuated was Barbara's Fishtrap employee, Pedro Zapata.
"I called my wife and my daughter and they said we have to go we're getting these notices. So we just went up to the highlands and waited," Zapata said.
Zapata says he and his colleagues had just opened the popular spot for lunch when the tsunami warning was issued.
He says the restaurant's owner called staff and told them to shut down.
"We were already open with a couple of customers inside. But we told them they had to go," said Zapata.
After the tsunami warning was canceled later in the day, we saw several people returning back into town and businesses reopening.
And while the the worst never materialized for these residents, the terrifying moments are ones they won't soon forget.
"Unbelievable. When I got off of 280 I saw all these cars. And there were police cars and ambulances and fire trucks. And I thought something really serious is going on," said Joe Munoz.
