Speaking about earthquakes and tsunamis

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

I saw a show on the Discovery Channel (I think) a while ago that has haunted me ever since. It was the show "Super Tsunami" and basically it postulated that there is some crumbling volcano in the Canary Islands that will shear in half in the event of an earthquake, fall into the ocean and then generate an enormous tsunami that will wipe out the entire East Coast of the United States. There would be very little time from the time the tsunami was generated until the time it hits - somewhere between 4-7 hours from what I recall- so forget about evacuating the East Coast.

I have told some friends, if you ever hear about a big quake near the Canary Islands, that would be a good time to take a scenic drive west on short notice.

Do you think this is a legitimate scenario? Did anyone else see the show? How prevalent is earthquake activity in that area?

The other scary show they had was about the super caldera under Yellowstone. Yikes!

Why am I even worrying about either one of these events? I do it for you. Things I worry about tend NOT to happen. I call this "worry insurance".

[slackmaster]

1. Those are two of many reasons I live in California

I'll take my chances on the San Andreas Fault or a Pacific Ocean tsunami.

[Louisiana1976]

2. Where I live I'm taking my chances on the New Madrid Fault system.

[AllentownJake]

3. I'm 350 feet above Sea Level

and 4 hours from the beach. I feel pretty secure.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. But are you ready to deal with a million refugees camping in the city park? nt

[AllentownJake]

8. I have a spare bed room

and a shot gun.

[phantom power]

4. Both of those events are essentially guaranteed to happen eventually.

It's hard to know what to think about it beyond that. "Eventually" could be this afternoon, or some time in the next million years.

Also not easy to 'prepare' for events like that. Is there a way to "prepare" for the destruction of the entire eastern seaboard? Or for several years of decimated food supply over the northern hemisphere?

:shrug:

[Subdivisions]

5. The geography you reference is the Cumbre Vieja volcano... (Dial-up Warning)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbre_Vieja

...on the Isle de La Palma. Apparently, the volcano has a deep crack along its flank that, it is theorized, could result in half the island sliding into the ocean if it sustains a Mt St. Helen-like explosive eruption.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. Shouldn't they build a big wall around it or something? nt

[FirstLight]

7. Did not see the show, but of course it is viable

as much as these doomsday shows recently aired are so much over the top 'science' ...taking theory to the most dramatic level, they are based on some facts, like where the faults are and how long it has been since they have seen movement.

The plates of the planet ARE shifting, we live on a molten Earth and the outer shell is only as solid as the shell of an egg, and when things shift, the ripples make for some exciting rides. I agree with you idea about taking a roadtrip if you hear of an earthquake in the Atlantic. Considering that we are so used to seeing the action in the Pacific, ANY action on the other side of the continent is quite a big deal. AFAIC

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop as far as the "Ring of Fire" is concerned...it's been 20 yrs since the Loma Prieta and the San Andreas and Hayward faults are overdue. Not to mention the Cascades. If there is this much activity on the western edge of that plate, the eastern egde should be grinding sometime soon.

gawd, I sound like I 'enjoy' theses disasters...i guess we all have a sense of the morbid curiosity when it comes to the power of Mother Nature's destruction.

[zeemike]

10. I saw the program several years ago.

And the projected Tsunami would be hugh.
But it is interesting to note whether you believe it or not that Jesus in his prediction of the Later Days warned "Woe unto him that dwell carelessly in the Isles."
If Earthquake activity increases in magnitude and frequency this could be the case for low lying areas.