Tsunami, could it happen here?

[Eric]

The answer is a resounding yes, but don't worry tooooooo much about it.  An interesting article below, via Fethiye Times.  Makes a mockery of the Baskan of Fethiye's comment a couple of years back that "there is no threat to Fethiye, in the event of a Tsunami, as Chevalier Island would provide a protective barrier"

http://www.euronews.net/2011/03/16/scientists-work-on-tsunami-alert-system-for-med/

[Highlander]

God forbid it does Eric.

Interesting article. Hopefully the work the scientists are doing will help save lives if not buildings.

The devastion in Japan is truly awesome:(

[scot]

Very interesting. Thanks Eric.

Bruce

[kenkay]

Oddly, I remember hearing reports of earthquakes since my childhood yet, up to the Indonesian one, I had never heard of a devastating tsunami. I have some memories of the term "tidal wave" but never anything as catastrophic as Indonesia or Japan. Is this the same for many others [?] or have I just lead a sheltered life [?]

[Scunner]

Same here Ken - I had heard the word only because it was in a Manic Street Preachers song title and even in that I got the impression it was probably something quite pleasant. I learned about earthquakes, volcanoes and glaciers in geography but never once do I recall even mention of the word tsunami.

[Highlander]

A very interesting observation Ken. Maybe they are called something else but, even if they were, I certainly don't remember knowing that tidal waves could cause such devastion.

[bewva]

My son was asking a similar question the other night. The first time I heard of a tsunami was the Indonisian one on Boxing day in 2004, bearing in mind I was the ripe old age of 39 at the time I thought I must have led a sheltered life.(if only)
I had to google the word to find out what exactly all the hype was about.

[JacM]

This is indeed very interesting -  what is the most practical advice for those who may be staying in the area and unaware of the local evacuation procedures should there be an emergency.

Like most people I probaly have some awareness of what to do in an earthquake, but tsunamis add another dimension. How would the early warning system work?

Jac

[Scunner]

This is the thing - having experienced a few earthquakes in Turkey, I know that you should if possible get downstairs, get outside and get somewhere open. But if a tsunami is coming I want to be as upstairs as possible, not downstairs? It's a frightening combination - and if you haven't experienced an earthquake let me tell you that even the smaller ones are horrible - so a combination of two massive major natural disasters in succession is truly terrifying.

Upstairs or downstairs isn't the only conflict of this natural combination either - as we see, the flexible timber based buildings that can seem quite primitive but cope with earthquakes so well are nothing more than matchsticks when the tsunami hits.

[Rindaloo]

Seems if you are indoors, stay there.  So, maybe stay upstairs??  That way you have the Tsunami covered as well (Insallah)

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_during.shtm