Saturday, April 21, 2007

East Coast evacuation plans for inevitable "Megatsunami"

What is the evacuation plan for major cities on the East Coast when Cumbre Vieja, a volcano in the Canary Islands erupts?

When it does, the entire western flank of La Palma will slide off the island and displace enough ocean water to create a megatsunami that will destroy much of the East Coast of North America. The megatsunami is expected to travel at speeds of up to 600 mph and will reach the United States in twelve hours, with waves higher than 300 feet, which will wash as far as twelve miles inland, obliterating everything in its path.

It is not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Seismologists are closely watching Cumbre Vieja for signs of volcanic activity, but will only be able to give warning of imminent eruption in a time period from as much as 30 days to as little as twelve hours.

What do major East Coast cities have planned for such an event? Will it be possible for the entire length of the American East Coast to be evacuated on such short notice?>

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