Could It Happen Here?
As the casualty count continues to grow from last months deadly tsunamis, experts said the U.S. West Coast is vulnerable to such a catastrophe and the insurance exposure runs into the trillions.
“The coast of California, Oregon, Washington, and also Alaska and Hawaiithey are all vulnerable to tsunamis,” according to Carolyn Bell, a representative for the Reston, Va.-based U.S. Geological Survey. “Scientifically there is a possibility [an earthquake in the Pacific could create giant tidal waves reaching the U.S. West Coast]. Its probably fair to say there may be around a 5 percent chance in the next 30 or 40 years.”
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