A study was released earlier this month predicting a monumental earthquake sometime next year, potentially causing a tsunami able to reach the California coastline.
Nearly 50 years ago an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 hit Alaska, generating a tsunami that reached Crescent City, killing 10 people. The study, released by the U.S. Geological Survey, hypothesizes through a simulator what could happen if another earthquake would erupt in Alaska on March 27, 2014.
The quake would produce a tsunami so intense it would force 750,000 people along the coastline to evacuate the area, according to the study.
San Diego State geology professor Vic Camp said that advanced warning is key.
“The most important thing is to keep people aware and send out a good tsunami warning that would be a four hours notice and for people to evacuate,” Camp said.
Scientists say the earthquake would be similar to the one that shook Japan in 2011. The study predicts the aftermath of the hypothetical tsunami could create damages of $500 million to $1.2 billion.
Scientists reported Mission Beach could suffer the worst local damage in San Diego. Local marinas, businesses and homes would be impacted by the tsunami. It would have the potential to sink or damage one third of all the boats in marinas. Additional damages would be economical and environmental.
“It is likely that the predictions through the simulator could be true,” Camp said.
According to the report, the earthquake would produce a tsunami with energy to reach Northern California in about four hours, producing waves up to 21 feet. Two hours later, it would reach San Diego, creating waves in a six-feet range and producing six to eight knot currents.
The USGS study hypothesized that because of the tsunami, more than 260,000 tourists would be evacuated statewide. A million more in the summer tourist season.
“In the area of Laguna Beach it will be a problem and for the people living along the San Diego beaches,” Camp said.
San Diego County Emergency Services Coordinator Bennett Cummings said San Diegans should visit the public preparedness website ReadySanDiego.org, which has relevant information about disasters, including tsunamis.
“They can find out if they are in an area threatened by a tsunami and we can kind of know by looking at the geography areas and where a tsunami wave would be focused the most,” Cummings said.
