Atmospheric rivers have punished California more severely in recent years, leading to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS for its acronym in English) to study the possible fall of a megatorm. His theory is that it doesn’t take long for Ark to arrive, a natural disaster that could leave cities in the state underwater and cause damage of up to $ 725,000.
These climatic events occur every 100 or 200 years and it’s been 160 years since the last one. A storm of such magnitude it could cause a devastation three times greater than that projected for the so-called mega-earthquake “The biggest” (“El gran” in Spanish) that specialists have assured that it will pass through the cities near the Sant Andreu fault.
What is the Ark Megastorm?
The name Ark is an acronym for Atmospheric river 1000 (Atmospheric River 1000 in Spanish). Many refer to it as well “The other big one” (“The other big one” in Spanish) because like the mega-earthquake represents one of California’s greatest natural threats.
Storms of its kind they collect water vapor from the Pacific Ocean and deposit it on the American coast with great force.
What damage could it cause?
Experts predict it could cause flooding and landslides that would leave significant damage to infrastructure, the economy, the environment and social life of the nearly 40 million residents of the state.
The report presented by USGS describes that the amount of water that would fall would exceed all flood protection systems, Hitting the west coast so hard that the Central Valley of California would be inaccessible to the rest of the United States. The coasts would be the hardest hit. The counties of Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego and much of San Francisco, would be completely underwater.
In cities near the sea as well winds as strong as those of a category 3 hurricane would be experienced, Up to 125 miles per hour (201.1 km / h), while in inner cities they would not go below 60 miles per hour (96.5 km / h).
And the economy?
California is the fifth most powerful economy in the world according to official data. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $ 3.140 trillion in 2019, just below Germany, Japan, China and the rest of the United States.
According to the projections of the USGS almost a third of that GDP would be lost. Property damage could be as high as $ 400,000. In addition, there would also be havoc in the sectors of agriculture, technology, entertainment, basic services, etc. which would cause the evacuation of millions of people.
The disruption to trade would cost about $ 325 million, totaling losses of at least $ 725 million.
When was the Ark Ark Megatorm?
Phenomena such as this sand have been recorded 7 times in California over the past 2000 years.
The most recent began on December 24, 1861. It lasted 45 days and nights. By the time St. Francis finished it was covered with 30 inches of rain (76 cm.), The streets of Sacrament had become rivers and the Central Valley was a lake 300 miles (482 km.) Long by 20 wide. (32 km.).
The damage forced the temporary state capital to be moved from Sacramento to San Francisco. The then governor, Leland Stanford, was forced to row to the Bay Area to take possession.
When will the next one fall?
yet there is no technology to predict when it will fall 1 megatorm as is the case with hurricanes. The only thing that is known for sure is that it will happen.
“The last time we saw it was in 1861. (…) We believe this megatorm it will happen around every 100 or 200 years“, Professor Lucy Jones, head of the USGS Multiple Emergency Demonstration Project, explained in presenting the report.
Is the state of California ready?
According to Jones experts agree that Californians are not as aware of the risks of flooding like those of earthquakes and that the damage will reach beyond state limits.
“This is not just a California issue. The economic impact is going to be felt across the country“He warned.
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