California Superstorm Will Cause Devastating Flooding: Could This Be the Next '˜Big One' for California?

Earthquakes and tidal waves and now the threat of a superstorm in California! There is a new report by a group of scientists and experts saying that California faces a risk of a superstorm. If this happens, they estimate that one-fourth of the homes in California will be affected by flooding. And scientists claim that the risk for a superstorm is greater now due to rising temperatures in the atmosphere which have caused more volatility in weather patterns.

And as scary as it is, these experts are saying that if California experiences a superstorm, the damage could be 4-5 times as bad as the damage experienced from a major earthquake! They estimate damages for the state could be as high as $300 billion to $400 billion!

Scientists say that superstorms have occurred in California in the past. They estimate a superstorm happens every 100-200 years. Scientists built a model that showed a very somber scenario. It showed that a superstorm could last for 40 days and add 10 feet of water to the state. The storm would be made worse by an atmospheric river that would move water at the same rate as 50 Mississippi rivers discharging water into the Gulf Of Mexico. Winds could reach as high as 125 miles per hour and landslides could make the damage worse.

US Geological Survey Director, Marcia McNutt, said "The time to begin taking action is now, before a devastating natural hazard event occurs. This scenario demonstrates firsthand how science can be the foundation to help build safer communities."

Sources:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110117/us_yblog_thelookout/scientists-warn-california-could-be-struck-by-winter-superstorm

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/49544/