Three U.S. regions at risk of possible
West Coast Faces Growing Mega Tsunami Threat
The Cascadia subduction zone, stretching from Northern California to British Columbia, poses a major tsunami risk. Here, the Juan de Fuca plate pushes beneath North America, causing potential massive earthquakes. A recent study warns that such an event could cause coastal land to sink by up to 6.5 feet, greatly expanding flood zones. As Tina Dura of Virginia Tech explains, “The expansion of the coastal floodplain following a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake has not been previously quantified.”
Unlike distant quakes, a Cascadia earthquake could trigger waves hundreds of feet high crashing ashore within minutes, traveling at up to 500 mph. Experts estimate a 15% chance of a magnitude 8.0+ quake in the next 50 years. Dura notes, “Most estuaries have a community in them, and they’re all right in the zone of subsidence.”
Risks extend beyond the Pacific Northwest. Alaska faces landslides from melting glaciers, and Hawaii has a history of mega tsunamis linked to volcanic activity, such as the 1,000-foot wave over Lanai.
Experts stress: “A mega tsunami will come — it’s just a matter of when.” Residents should prepare by learning evacuation routes, signing up for alerts, and keeping emergency supplies ready.
