By Nicholas Turner
From The Seattle Times
SEATTLE—A tsunami triggered by a major earthquake beneath Puget Sound would arrive at the shores sooner and reach further inland than previously understood, according to a study published Thursday by the Washington Department of Natural Resources.
Models showed a tsunami following a magnitude 7.5 quake would inundate Seattle’s shoreline under more than 20 feet of water, and reach parts of Bainbridge Island, Elliott Bay and Alki Point within three minutes.
Waves could reach a staggering 42 feet at the Seattle Great Wheel and reach as far as Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park.
“Three to five minutes is all that separates a seismic event from the arrival of tsunami waves,” said public lands commissioner Hilary Franz on Thursday during a press conference on the Seattle waterfront. “Which is why we do this research now so everyone is aware of it, so our local state government is aware of it, and we can start to prepare and plan and take all precautions necessary.”…