[Pyro7480]

Some computer models suggest East Coast cities are vulnerable to a large tsunami if there were a huge volcanic eruption and landslide in the Canary Islands, off northwest Africa. But other researchers say such an event would happen only once in 10,000 years, and such a disruption is unlikely to occur all at once.

Never say never. Though it would take hours for a tsunami wave to get across the Atlantic, and the global seismic detection network would probably pick it up, I wouldn't bet lives on a one in 10,000 year chance.

[worldclass]

If they could predict when, it would be a BIG help. I wouldn't mind seeing a gathering of Hollywood celebs at a posh resort on the coast at that time.

[Prime Choice]

Well, if a tsunami hits the west coast of the U.S., it's a fair bet me and mine won't live to see another day. We're right on the beachfront and travelling inland on California's ridiculously crowded roads is a lesson in futility. Even if we had a full 24 hours advance warning, we wouldn't be able to get more than 10 miles in unless we walked...armed to the teeth.

[Free and Armed]

Y'all have fun with that, California.

[js1138]

The Canary Island thing is unlikely, but if it does happen it will take out many East Coast cities. Even with hours of warning I doubt if you could evacuate these cities.

[sgtbono2002]

I wouldnt turn down a nice waterfront home at Myrtle Beach if the price was right. Hell your own home is more likely to burn down with you in it than a Tsunami. Too many ways for a person to die for me to worry about a Tsunami every 10,000 years.

[Cicero]

Most of the West coast has high bluffs or cliffs, so a tsunami would only carry away structures down near the water.

It's always been known that California and the Pacific coast generally are earthquake prone. People take their chances because they like living there.

[handy old one]

Now what are the odds of winning a large lottery and, people play those odds to win????

[GSlob]

Well, if that volcano is turned into bombing range, one could chip off and landslide that mountain into the sea little by little, taking a dollar in pennies, as it were. That way there'd be no tsunami, and there would be a good training ground for the bomber pilots.

[Mr. Mojo]

In fact, Atwater said there was a 9.0 earthquake under the Pacific more than 300 years ago that had devastating consequences. He and other scientists last year reported finding evidence of severe flooding in the Puget Sound area in 1700, including trees that stopped growing after "taking a bath in rising tide waters."

I better get an ark ready.

[Brilliant]

More likely to happen on the west coast, but could also happen on the east coast. I was reading though that the maximum height of the wave is limited by the depth of the water. They apparently believe that the wave could not get much higher than about 20 feet here in Central Florida.

[RobRoy]

Blah blah blah... We could get hit by a meteor too.

This is the classic "it's a slow news day so lets scare the sheep" story.

A system is alrady in place.

[ravingnutter]

A massive chunk of La Palma, the most volcanically active island in the Canaries archipelago, is unstable, says Simon Day, of the Benfield Grieg Hazard Research Centre at University College London.

He calculates that its flank could collapse the next time the volcano, Cumbre Vieja, erupts.

If so, that would send a dome-shaped wall of water up to 100 metres high racing across the Atlantic at 800 kilometres per hour, hitting the western coast of Africa and southern coast of England within a few hours.

Some eight hours after the collapse, the US East Coast and Caribbean would bear the brunt. Cities from Miami to New York would get swamped by waves up to 50 metres high, capable of surging up to 20 kilometres inland, according to Day's research.

US also faces tsunami threat

While some researchers discount this, we have to remember that it is very difficult to make timeline predictions in matters such as this. Also, there are NO warning devices on the East coast, only the West coast.

[G.Mason]

Okay ... let me get this right.

Tsunami's are in ... comets are out ... global warming is on hold.

Or is it Tsunami's are in ... global warming is out ... comets are on hold?

[dead]

Scientists: Tsunami Could Hit West Coast

A tsunami could possibly strike an ocean coastline situated on a hotbed of tectonic activity?

If it weren’t “scientists” making this outlandish claim, I would be very skeptical.

[You Dirty Rats]

As for the Atlantic Coast, a tsunami is considered extremely unlikely.

I disagree. One fart from Jerry Nadler while he swims in the Atlantic Ocean could take down Lower Manhatten.

[Outland]

Just make sure that Arnold and all of Hollyweird are on the beaches at the time.

[Born to Conserve]

Ooooo, this tsunami is soooo baaaaaad!

Read up on the mega tsunamis and super volcanoes. They are much rarer than the little problems we have every few years, but they have the potential to wipe out millions or billions.

Then there are impacts and climate shifts capable of extinction.

[NorCalRepub]

seismic yes but I don't think there are any detection bouys in the Atlantic......

[Mike Darancette]

I think that a warning system is a good idea but as for me if I felt or heard of a quake I would immediately beat feet to higher ground not go out to the beach to see the pretty waves.

[Muleteam1]

Oh well, everyone lives close to some potential natural disaster. I live within a mile of a volcano. The question is whether California will fall off into the Pacific before the tsunami hits? If it does, look out Reno.

Muleteam1