Question about "storm surge" -- does anyone know if this is really sudden, like a Tsunami, or is it a more gradual increase in flooding? i.e., is it going to wipe out just about anything in its path that's not incredibly well-built, or is most of the water damage more gradual, over days and weeks?
The ones that I have seen happen fast...not like a tsunami, more like when you are standing at the beach and a wave kind of slowly comes up around you and all of the sudden it's up to your shoulders instead of your kneecaps like you thought.
My understanding is that it is pretty sudden. That might be mitigated somewhat by the levees. Unless they break, then it'll be unimaginable, I'd guess.
It can come in just as fast, depends on the situation.