Thursday, December 21, 2006

U.S. To Upgrade Tsunami Alert System, President Bush Signs Bill To Revamp Warning Apparatus - CBS News

U.S. To Upgrade Tsunami Alert System, President Bush Signs Bill To Revamp Warning Apparatus - CBS News: "The 680-mile-long Cascadia subduction zone lies off the coasts of Washington and Oregon and is similar in size and geologic character to the fault that caused the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The last major Cascadia quake occurred 300 years ago and hit the West Coast with an estimated 30-foot high ocean surge.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates a 10 percent to 14 percent chance of another major Cascadia quake within the next 50 years. A tsunami generated in the subduction zone or in Washington's Puget Sound would allow for a warning of less than 20 minutes, which makes tsunami education and efficient evacuation plans essential, Cantwell said.
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