If Big Quake Hits off Coast, Tsunami Could be Gigantic (Washington, Oregon, California)

The San Francisco Chronicle ^ | June 13, 2005 | David Perlman

[BlackRazor]

if, against all odds, an errant asteroid plunges into the ocean many miles off California, a monstrous tsunami could drown low-lying lands all up and down the continent's western edge

Well, then I guess I'm not moving there. Way too dangerous.

BTW, what makes the asteroid "errant"? How does the author know the correct course?

[AbeKrieger]

What is this "Oregon" I keep hearing about?

[Mack the knife]

"If Big Quake Hits off Coast, Tsunami Could be Gigantic (Washington, Oregon, California)"

A 20 foot wave would not be "Gigantic". I saw a Discover or History program earlier this year that talked about the effects of a huge landslide off of an island off the coast of Africa -- this would result in a 300 FOOT TSUNAMI hitting the East Coast of the US.

Now THAT would be GIGANTIC.

[cajungirl]

Dang, Freeprs are so negative.

There is no disaster that cannot have an opportunity. Think about it.

[Cate]

If you acquire ocean front property, maybe we could all come for a weekend bbq... how about if everyone brings beer and goodies from their own towns? That will be fun.

[anniegetyourgun]

You can't fool me. I've never met anyone who has.

[Veto!]

Oh well.

Veto in Puget Sound

[anniegetyourgun]

Now cut that out.....

[lilylangtree]

I'm with you but add the freaks & crazies in Seattle. So where's the problem?

[HitmanLV]

Viva Marina Las Vegas!!!!

[blackie]

The author is "errant". :)

[wbill]

Phew, I was afraid of being wiped out in the latest media-hyped disaster.

But if Congress is going to pass a law against eathquakes/tsunamis/hurricanes/asteroids/etc - we'll be just fine. All they need is some funding.....

Also, the following needs to be said......Bush's fault, minorities, children most affected.

[Steve_Seattle]

"One thing the article wasn't clear on was exactly how well the wave propagates into Puget Sound."

True, by far the most populous areas in Washington are on Puget Sound, not the Coast, and I'd assume a tidal wave would significantly if not totally be diminished by the time it got far into Puget Sound. Moreover, most of Seattle is on hills 100-400 feet above sea level.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

sounds good to me. When the tsunami happens I'll ping ya to send out the invites. :o)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Main Entry: lot·tery
Pronunciation: 'lä-t&-rE also 'lä-trE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ter·ies
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French loterie, from Middle Dutch, from lot lot; akin to Old English hlot lot
1 a : a tax on the mathematically ignorant.

[Cold Heart]

Oregon has such maps. You can look them up and print them off. I forgot the website but dogpile (not using google it on advice from my political council(FR) Oregon dept. of geology tsunami etc.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Thanks CH. I'l check it out and then see of CA has one since that's were I am. But the gov site should be about the same, right?

[hattend]

There was a 200 foot Tsunami in some Alaska inlet and there were witnesses. A small fishing boat went for a ride.

A landslide (actually a portion of a mountain broke off) into the head of the inlet created a 200 foot wave. And it wasn't the first time it's happened.

Discovery Channel had a program about it.

[Cold Heart]

Thanks for the reminder about the tsunami flooding Portland too. Tidal affects are found all the way up the Columbia and Willamete rivers past Portland to Oregon City.

[So Cal Rocket]

I don't see a problem here.