BIG ONE COMING? US on red alert for devastating earthquake and tsunami to strike

In just a few days major rehearsals will take place by disaster officials, the emergency services, and military, in a bid to face what will happen when an overdue major earthquake strikes.

The massive earthquake and tsunami readiness drill has been developed by the US government, military, and state and local emergency managers over several years to test if they are ready for what is expected to be the country’s worst ever natural disaster when it comes.

And it is a case of when, not if.

GETTY

Collapsed four-storey apartment building in Marina District, after earthquake of 17 October, 1989.

The exercise from June 7 to 10 is called Cascadia Rising or even the “Doomsday Drill”. 

This is in reference to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 600-mile-long fault line off the west coast from Northern California to British Columbia.

Scientists agree that the area is due major seismic activity and that a “big one” magnitude eight or greater earthquake is overdue by about 80 years.

Lt Col Clayton Braun of the Washington State National Guard, said: “This is the largest exercise ever for a Cascadia break.”

Around 20,000 people will take part in the dry run of the disaster that could affect millions of people.

The major exercise will test how well agencies work together to minimise loss of life.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/676871/BIG-ONE-COMING-US-prepares-for-devastating-earthquake-tsunami-to-strike