If a tsunami got around Vancouver Island

[Balfour]

There has been alot of talk about Tsunamis lately, and contrary to popular belief of Vancouver Island being a barrier to the the Lower Mainland, A tsunami could possibly hit the Lower Mainland. In this sort of situation, the Lower levels, such as Tsawassen, Richmond, Delta, and White Rock, might have some damage. I just wonder if terminals on the east coast of Vancouver Island or sheltered terminals like Horseshoe Bay would be Okay.

[Curtis]

Horseshoe Bay and those other areas would probably be ok. It would be highley doubtfull if a tsunami got past Vancouver Island into the Strait of Georgia

[Koastal Karl]

There was a program on the discovery channel tonight about tsunami's and if and what would happen if they reached Vancouver and the West Coast of the island which would be probably hit the hardest.

[Doug]

Maybe a tsunami will come over Vancouver Island when the "Big One" hits? That would swamp all the ferries no matter where they are and would probably destroy the entire city of Vancouver and leave the Fraser Valley flooded. Imagine it: a wave the size of the Rocky Mountain Range rolling towards the west coast of North America. Would be quite scary if you ask me.

[Koastal Karl]

Yeah it would be quite scary, hmm! Maybe I will head of to Emdonton if this was to ever happen, as I dont think I would want to be here if something like that happened along with a whole lot of other people wouldent want to experience a tsunami.

[Koastal Karl]

Vancouver Island might be underwater, and Tsawwassen would be no longer and you might see the SOBC sitting in downtown Vancouver but other than that, we wouldent want that to happen.

[Ferryman]

The Wave would smash the West Coast of the Island, but it could still get around it by Juan de Fuca Straight and the Johnstone Sraight, but I don't think it would hit the Mainland too hard. If the wave was to go over Vancouver Island, it was would have to be as high as say the Northshore mountains. The waves that hit Taiwan or wherever were only as high as a maybe an appartement building judging by the video I've seen on TV. But then theres the masive river part of it that cause everything to wash away. I could see that happening in the Downtown Westend of Vancouver and Tsawwassen Delta area too. I don't think it would wash away the Ferries that were on route, because there was fishing boats a few kilometers off shore and they survived the wave going under them, and they didn't even know till they got back to shore to find out what had happened, so I think a big BCF could handle that.

[BrianWilliams]

Long before we worry about tsumamis in our inland waters, we can think about local storms.

July, 1989: with some friends, I cruised to Desolation Sound in a 28' powerboat. Flat, blue water; perfect days for a week. Then a summer gale kicked up one night. It blew out while we we were safely anchored in the Copeland Islands.

Next morning, the run south to Westview (Powell River) was easy .. but when we entered Malaspina Channel -between Texada and the mainland: Holy Smoke!

Our stinkpot, a 250 hp Sea Ray, was bashed by standing waves 20 feet high. These were effects of the previous night's NW gale, coupled with an incoming tide.

Our boat stood, at times, almost vertical against walls of green water. On a summer day, with a slight breeze.

That is the effect of force and fetch. We wise folks ran back to Westview, and hunkered inside the breakwater.

Three hours later, Malaspina Channel was a smooth creek.

"Fetch" as most of you know, is the distance/volume of water affected by "force", the wind, tide or other disturbance.

The Sumatran earthquake had both fetch and force. Fetch was the deadliest factor. Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadhu suffered terribly, even so far away from the source. Fetch multiplied the force.

Back to our point. A Pacific tsunami cannot slip around Vancouver Island. There is an easy benchmark: April 1964.

Anchorage, Alaska was partly flooded by a tsunami. Seward, AK was destroyed. Port Alberni, BC lost some property, but no lives.

On our south coast, nobody noticed. Lots of fetch, but the force was broken by our island barriers.

Don't wait for a potential tsunami. If you want a greenwater thrill close to home, try Okisollo Narrows NE of Quadra Island. Four shows a day, on each tide change. Wow.