A disturbing new report from oceanographers and seismic risk researchers is sending shockwaves across the United States, as scientists warn that at least three coastal regions are at risk of being obliterated by a future mega tsunami—a wall of water so massive it could erase entire communities and leave them permanently uninhabitable.
The study, published in the Geophysical Research Letters and summarized by National Geographic, focuses on the catastrophic chain reaction that could be triggered by a volcanic collapse or underwater landslide, similar to the one that caused the infamous 1958 Lituya Bay tsunami in Alaska—but on a much larger scale.
The regions identified as most vulnerable? Southern California, Hawaii, and the Eastern Seaboard—particularly parts of the Carolinas.
“People think tsunamis only happen across the Pacific,” said Dr. Brian Halvorsen, lead researcher at the Oceanic Risk Institute, in an interview with CNN. “But the Atlantic and the Hawaiian basins have their own unique triggers. A mega tsunami wouldn’t just be a few feet of water. It would be a wall—40 to 100 feet tall—moving at the speed of a jetliner.”
The research team used AI modeling and deep-sea seismic data to simulate what would happen if the unstable flank of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands were to collapse into the Atlantic. That scenario, long speculated by scientists, would send a colossal wave hurtling westward—reaching the U.S. coastline within 6 to 9 hours.
According to simulation maps shared by BBC Science, a wave that large would decimate cities like Charleston, South Carolina, and submerge large sections of Miami, Savannah, and Wilmington. The water wouldn’t recede for days, and saltwater intrusion could render critical infrastructure—like hospitals and sewage systems—completely unusable.
In California, experts say the Catalina Fault Zone poses a separate but equally terrifying threat. A landslide triggered by a moderate earthquake could unleash enough underwater debris to displace millions of gallons of water in seconds. That wave would slam into cities like Long Beach, San Diego, and Santa Monica with almost no warning.
A video animation from @DisasterDecoded showing the wave simulations has gone viral, racking up over 12 million views. “This isn’t doomsday fiction,” the narrator says. “This is physics, math, and decades of ignored warnings.”
Perhaps the most vulnerable of all, however, is Hawaii. The islands sit squarely in the path of several Pacific fault lines, and a mega-tsunami could be triggered by a sudden collapse of the Hilina Slump on the Big Island—an unstable mass of earth the size of Manhattan. According to Honolulu Magazine, scientists have quietly been monitoring the slump for over a decade.
Dr. Leilani Poe from the University of Hawaii told NBC News, “If that mass shifts just a few meters under the right stress, we’re talking about an immediate threat to the entire archipelago—10 to 20 minutes warning, max.”
The consequences wouldn’t just be physical. The economic devastation could rival that of a war zone. A FEMA official who asked not to be named told Axios that their worst-case scenario modeling for a mega tsunami impacting Miami estimates $1.2 trillion in damage, with up to 1.5 million displaced.
That threat has already begun to impact tourism and real estate markets in some of the flagged zones. A real estate report from Zillow Research shows a 6.8% decline in coastal property interest across the Carolinas and Hawaii since the study was published.
Despite this, government officials are urging the public not to panic—but to prepare.
In a press conference streamed by C-SPAN, FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said, “We are not predicting imminent catastrophe. But we are issuing a call to action. Coastal communities must revisit their evacuation protocols, upgrade early warning systems, and educate residents.”
One of the most striking aspects of the new report is its warning that some affected areas may become permanently uninhabitable due to long-term contamination and infrastructure failure.
“The floodwaters would bring debris, toxins, and sea life inland,” Dr. Halvorsen said. “And in places like Miami or Honolulu, the soil beneath entire neighborhoods could be destabilized. We’re not talking about rebuilding in a month—we’re talking about abandoning zones completely.”
The online reaction has ranged from alarm to conspiracy. Some users on r/Preppers have started mapping potential bug-out routes, while TikTok influencers post survival guides and “safe zone” maps. One viral video by @TheCrisisCompass explains how to build a waterproof emergency kit with enough supplies for 72 hours off-grid.
Experts say awareness, not hysteria, is the key.
“This isn’t about scaring people—it’s about waking them up,” said Poe. “We’ve got the data. We’ve got the tools. But none of that matters if the public and local governments don’t act.”
Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has announced it will begin testing new Pacific and Atlantic Tsunami Warning Centers using real-time AI modeling starting in July. A post from NOAA Communications said the agency is working “around the clock” to improve its early warning accuracy by 60% over current capabilities.
As the summer travel season begins, families in at-risk zones are grappling with a new kind of invisible threat—one that can’t be seen, but can arrive without warning, and change life forever.
