Avian Flu Diary: Tsunami: The Other Coastal Threat

Photo Credit – NTHMP

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Although storms remain the biggest threat, last year’s devastating combination earthquake/tsunami in Japan has reinforced concerns that many other coastal regions around the world – including those in the United States – are at risk from destructive tidal waves.

While most people automatically think of the Pacific ocean when it comes to America’s vulnerability to tsunamis, the Atlantic seaboard, Florida, and even the Gulf of Mexico are not completely immune to the phenomenon.

A list of known or suspected Atlantic Tsunamis includes:

November 1, 1755 - Lisbon, Portugal
October 11, 1918 - Puerto Rico
November 18, 1929 - Newfoundland
August 4, 1946 - Dominican Republic
August 18, 1946 - Dominican Republic
November 14, 1840 - Great Swell on the Delaware River
November 17, 1872 - Maine
January 9, 1926 - Maine
May 19, 1964 - Northeast USA
POSSIBLE TSUNAMI
June 9, 1913 - Longport, NJ
August 6, 1923 - Rockaway Park, Queens, NY. An article on triplicate waves."
August 8, 1924 - Coney Island, NY. Contains a discussion, “An Observed Tsunami Building In Coastal Waters?"
August 19, 1931 - Atlantic City, NJ
September 21, 1938 - Hurricane, NJ coast.
July 3-4, 1992 - Daytona Beach, FL

The last suspected entry – the infamous Daytona Beach `rogue wave’ of 1992 - was described by witnesses as being between 10 and 18 feet tall, slammed onto a 27 mile stretch of Florida Beaches and smashed hundreds of cars and caused as many as 75 (mostly minor) injuries.

Hawaii and the west coast are, of course, at considerably greater risk due to the seismically active `ring of fire’.

Perhaps most vulnerable is the Pacific Northwest, where the Cascadia fault line (see Just A Matter Of Time) is believed to have produced tsunamis in the past that rival the tidal waves that struck Japan last year.

All of which helps to explain why the United States government takes the tsunami threat seriously. Tsunamis may not strike often, but when they do, they can be extremely destructive.

This coming week (March 25-31st) is National Tsunami Preparedness Week, and you’ll find information on planned activities in many coastal states on the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program website.

Other resources to check out include the PHE (Public Health Emergency) Website which includes some videos, along with preparedness resources.

And NOAA’S National Weather Service Tsunami Warning Page:

Since tidal waves may arrive with only minutes warning, it is imperative for those living on or near the coast to have a tsunami plan already in place.

That means having a `bug-out bag’ (see NPM11: When You Have To `Get Out Of Dodge’ In A Hurry), an emergency plan (including emergency rendezvous place), and knowing your evacuation routes off the beach.

Tsunamis are relatively rare, but they are just one of many potential threats, which is why most experts recommend an `all threats’ preparedness strategy.

Disasters happen.

And so you need to have adequate emergency supplies (including a good first aid kit), a NOAA weather radio, and a disaster plan, in order to give you and your family the best protection.

Good places to get preparedness information include: