The Big One Is Coming.....or Not
Robyn Stubbs
Another rupture of the entire fault line is capable of generating a 9.5 magnitude mega-quake that is likely to last five or six minutes and cause extensive damage to Greater Vancouver, most of which sits on soft, water-saturated soil, said Walsh.
It could also send a wave up to three-and-a-half metres tall smashing through the Juan de Fuca and Georgia Straits.
Depending on the location of the quake, "the first wave would arrive in Washington one hour after a 9-plus earthquake, and serious flooding will begin after just 25 minutes," Walsh said.
British Columbians would have a little bit more time to find higher ground, with the first wave hitting Puget Sound and the Georgia Strait two and a half hours after the quake.
The Washington expert also said LYDAR, a key tool to understanding the seismic hazards, isn't yet available in the Lower Mainland.