Unfortunately, California has another disaster threat to add to its long list... a "superstorm" that could cause massive flooding and destruction 4 to 5 times what might be expected in a major earthquake.
In a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 100 scientists and experts indicate that California faces the risk of a massive "superstorm" that could flood a quarter of the state's homes and cause $300 billion to $400 billion in damage.
U.S. Geological Survey scientists warned emergency officials that California's geological history shows such "superstorms" have happened in the past, and should be added to the long list of natural disasters possible in the state.
There has not been such a cataclysmic storm in California for about 150 years, but the risk of a repeat of past "superstorms" is now growing due to the rising temperatures in the atmosphere, which have generally made weather patterns more volatile.
Geological Survey director Marcia K. McNutt indicates that a 300-mile stretch of the Central Valley experienced massive flooding from 1861-62. Geological evcidence indicates that even larger storms happened in past centuries in the years 212, 440, 603, 1029, 1418, and 1605.
One scientific model referenced in the report showed that a storm could last for more than 40 days and dump 10 feet of water on the state of California. In this scenario, an "atmospheric river" would move water "at the same rate as 50 Mississippis discharging water into the Gulf of Mexico,". Winds from the storm could reach 125 miles per hour and the storms would likely cause massive landslides.
It is easy to dismiss such predictions as something for the next century to have to worry about, but as Geological Survey scientist Lucy Jones has indicated, "We think this event happens once every 100 or 200 years or so, which puts it in the same category as our big San Andreas earthquakes". So given that the last occurrence was 150 years ago, this is very possibly an issue for current residents of California and not just their great-grandchildren.
Federal and state emergency management officials are taking the threat seriously and met last week to discuss preparations for a potential California superstorm.
Emergency preparedness just makes good common sense. Whether you live in California, or elsewhere, please consider your own level of preparedness for a major emergency or disaster of any kind and make sure that you have an emergency plan and adequate emergency kits and supplies.
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