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ARkStorm Scenario: Worse than an earthquake?

When you think of California you think of fires and earthquakes. Now severe weather is being added to the list.

The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Scenario and Exercise were so successful they have decided to take it one step further and add a catastrophic flood scenario to the mix.  ARkStormconjures up a Biblical size event:

 

"This document summarizes the next major public project for MHDP, a winter storm scenario called ARkStorm (for Atmospheric River 1,000). Experts have designed a large, scientifically realistic meteorological event followed by an examination of the secondary hazards (for example, landslides and flooding), physical damages to the built environment, and social and economic consequences. The hypothetical storm depicted here would strike the U.S. West Coast and be similar to the intense California winter storms of 1861 and 1862 that left the central valley of California impassible. The storm is estimated to produce precipitation that in many places exceeds levels only experienced on average once every 500 to 1,000 years."

 

Since FEMA is into Maximums of Maximums planning and exercises I guess ARkStorm fits the bill.  When you think about it, the movie 2012had a mix of earthquakes and flooding in film.  Maybe we should let Hollywood develop our disaster scenarios?

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