Experts Warn of Mega Tsunami Risk in the U.S.
Image courtesy of Paul under Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic Deed, resized to 700 x 391 pixels.
Experts have recently sounded the alarm over the risk in the U.S. of a so-called mega tsunami, a phenomenon that could result in a 1,000-foot wall of water that could easily wipe out multiple communities in one fell swoop. If you are operating in one of these at-risk areas, the time is now to prepare for the worst.
What Might Trigger a Mega Tsunami in the U.S.?
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), indicates that Alaska, Hawaii, and the coastal areas of northern California, northern Oregon, and southern Washington are particularly at risk.
Mega tsunamis can be caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, or similar events that create a large volume of displaced ocean water. Despite the presence of volcanoes in Hawaii and an increasing risk of landslides in Alaska, in the U.S., the most likely mega tsunami trigger would be an earthquake erupting within the Cascadia subduction zone, which is a geologic fault that runs all the way from California to Northern Vancouver Island. If such an earthquake were to occur during a full moon at high tide, the result could be disastrous.
If this seems far-fetched, think again. The Cascadia subduction zone is one of the most active areas in North America, and scientists estimate that there is a 15% chance of an 8.0 magnitude or greater earthquake occurring within the region in the next 50 years. Such an event would cause coastal land to sink by over 6 feet.
Therefore, while unlikely, it’s not impossible. This means that utility companies in these at-risk areas must account for this threat. As such, I would recommend adding content into your emergency plans and protocols that address the risk. While this action won’t be able to prevent a mega tsunami, it would at least provide some guidance for what to do immediately before and after the event. Good luck!
