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Podcast: The Jefferson Exchange
Episode:

New study: risk of severe flooding in the Pacific Northwest is rising
Category: News & Politics
Duration: 00:14:43
Publish Date: 2025-05-08 17:25:36
Description:
Flood waters from the Eel River spill onto a road in Loleta.
Flood waters from the Eel River spill onto a road in Loleta.(Cal Poly Humboldt)

A powerful earthquake, combined with rising sea levels, could significantly increase flood risks in the Pacific Northwest, impacting thousands of residents and properties in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study, titled “Increased flood exposure in the Pacific Northwest following earthquake-driven subsidence and sea-level rise,” found that a major earthquake could cause coastal land to sink up to 6.5 feet. This would expand the federally-designated 1% coastal floodplain (an area with a 1-in-100 chance of flooding each year) by 35-116 square miles.

Joining the Exchange to discuss the findings of the report is Dr. Harvey Kelsey, a research associate and co-author of the study at Cal Poly Humboldt.
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