Lake Tahoe could see a tsunami in the future, and evidence shows it has likely experienced one in the past, according to a California geologist.
The chance of a tsunami is unlikely, but not unthinkable, given the region’s susceptibility to earthquakes. The body of water shared by California and Nevada has fault lines that run underneath it, causing a risk of such a disaster.
“We happen to be in a bit of an active period right now,” California Geological Survey geologist Steve Bohlen told CBS Sacramento on Monday.
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A 3.7 magnitude earthquake hit the lake’s center April 25, and a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit Truckee, California, on May 7, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
“There is a tsunami hazard around Lake Tahoe,” Bohlen said, adding that a magnitude-7 earthquake could cause tsunami-like waves, although it’s improbable.
“It would be [a] significant emergency response effort in the Tahoe area if a magnitude-7 were to occur,” Bohlen said. “If you feel an earthquake for [an] extended period of time, you really ought to think about moving to higher ground as quickly as possible.”
Bohlen also said, “Californians should have a safety kit with food, water … have a family plan of how to get together … when cellphones are down.”
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One researcher estimates a tsunami likely hit the basin between 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. Richard Schweickert, a retired University of Nevada, Reno geology professor, said he believes another tsunami could be on its way, though he cannot pinpoint when.
“There is no way to predict if it’s 20,000 or 20 years from now,” he told the Tahoe Daily Tribune in January.
