[NGTM-1R]

But sometimes there isn't enough time to get to the high ground. Tsunami's travel very fast. So if you get caught up in one, are there any ways to gaurentee you'll live?

If you get caught in the surge, you should probably just bend over and kiss your ass goodbye. Your best hope is to see it coming and make it to a second or third story and hope that the building can take it.

[iamzack]

Four posts into a thread about surviving a natural disaster, and the solution is already "shoot it."

[NGTM-1R]

Four posts into a thread about surviving a natural disaster, and the solution is already "shoot it."

For the mentally and FreeSpace-impaired.

http://www.hard-light.net/wiki/index.php/Tsunami

[iamzack]

The mental image of shooting a wave of water is way funnier than any freespace reference.

[watsisname]

Four posts into a thread about surviving a natural disaster, and the solution is already "shoot it."

Shooting it always works.

[Snail]

DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA

[Flipside]

I believe most victims of Tsunami are killed by either being thrown against something during the initial impact, or being dragged away by the backwash currents. High Ground is the obvious, and probably most effective solution.

But sometimes there isn't enough time to get to the high ground. Tsunami's travel very fast. So if you get caught up in one, are there any ways to gaurentee you'll live?

Not really, luck is probably your best friend in those situations, the most effective defences against Tsunami really take place long before they hit shore, in the form of pre-warning systems, so areas can be evacuated, but when several million tonnes of water decide they are going to be somewhere else, there's very little we can do about it on short notice. There might be some possibilities in the Japanese ideas for divrerting lava using channels and barriers to try and coax the lava on a particular route, rather than stop it entirely, but water is far more liquid than lava than and channeling etc will only have a limited affect.

In the end, the best, best method for defending against a Tsunami is to build your city underwater, but that's kind of a major undertaking and simply replaces the threat of drowning during a Tsunami with the threat of drowning through malfunction. Personally, I think Tsunamis are probably safer.

[Snail]

In the end, the best, best method for defending against a Tsunami is to build your city underwater, but that's kind of a major undertaking and simply replaces the threat of drowning during a Tsunami with the threat of drowning through malfunction. Personally, I think Tsunamis are probably safer.

What about a flying city?

[Flipside]

I think flying cities are a little too sci-fi for me at the moment Once we get to that stage of development, I suspect you'll have a lot more options to stay away from Natural Diasters, including heading off to another planet.

Edit: Thinking about it, you may stand a better chance if you can get some good solid buildings between you and the wave, if, by the time the water reaches you, it has spent most of its energy hitting stuff, you only have to deal with the depth of the water, which shouldn't be too bad as long as you can swim and there is something to head for. The risk is, of course, misjudging and having the building that was supposed to save you collapse on top of you.

[StarSlayer]

 Anti Grizzly Bear Attack Suit modified with the following:

   + Scuba tank

   + Floaties

[jr2]

But sometimes there isn't enough time to get to the high ground. Tsunami's travel very fast. So if you get caught up in one, are there any ways to gaurentee you'll live?

Have Scotty beam you up.

[Scotty]

I don't do requests.

[Snail]

lulz

[watsisname]

The best way to survive a tsunami is with a survivaball.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

I thought climbing up a tree is the best way to survive a tsunami.

[Herra Tohtori]

I believe most victims of Tsunami are killed by either being thrown against something during the initial impact, or being dragged away by the backwash currents. High Ground is the obvious, and probably most effective solution.

It's over Tsunami, I have the high ground!

YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER

Don't try it...

Actually, the safest place to be during a tsunami is in the water, sufficiently far from the shallow coast waters. When the wave hits shallow water, the energy of the wave motion conserves (reasonably well), but due to reduction in the water depth the surface amplitude increases immensely. If you're far enough out that you're not washed to the shore and then back with the receding water, hitting stuff like trees, buildings and cars on the way, you should be just fine.

On the other hand if you're actually on the beach and see the wave coming, the safest bet is to either get on top of a solid building and hope it doesn't collapse under you...

Of course, there are different kinds of tsunamis, depending on how they are originated. The phase of the wave front hitting the coast line is pretty important. Waves with negative initial amplitude have a "deeper" area ahead of them, and they give the warning with fast receding waters. Positive initial amplitude waveform means the water rises immediately with no further warning.

By the way if you go to area with possibility of tsunamis, make yourself familiar with paths to tsunami shelters and in general instructions for such incident. That's going to increase your odds of survival much more than asking about it from internet people.

[iamzack]

What if you're in shallow(ish) water and you see the wave rise? if you swim through it to the other side can you be okay, like with smaller waves?

[Herra Tohtori]

No.

First of all, in shallow water there is no way you could swim against the wave which essentially pushes water on land like a flood tide.

Secondly, tsunamis usually consist of multiple waves. The first one is not necessarily always the highest/most energetic/most destructive one.

[Aardwolf]

How to survive a tsunami? Well if it's anything like how to survive a typhoon: stop cutting down the mangroves!

[watsisname]

No.

First of all, in shallow water there is no way you could swim against the wave which essentially pushes water on land like a flood tide.

Secondly, tsunamis usually consist of multiple waves. The first one is not necessarily always the highest/most energetic/most destructive one.

Not to mention that even if you did somehow manage to "swim to the other side" of the waves, you'd just end up getting pulled out to sea when all that water goes back out again.

So, basically, you'd have to swim like The Zohan.