If a tsunami struck NYC would the tall buildings collapse?

Answer 1

If you look at the images of the tsunami in S.E. Asia and of the storm surge in Mississippi in connection with Katrina, you would have to say that it is unlikely that many buildings would come down. The strongest part of the buildings is at the bottom supporting all the weight above. That is not to say there wouldn't be huge amounts of damage with water washing through the floors as happened in Katrina. But there are a lot of buildings to break up the surge. There is, of course, the question of where in the Atlantic there would be an earthquake big enough to send a significant tsunami into NYC and the fact that Manhattan Island (the borough with the tall buildings) is shielded by Long Island and Staten Island. Buildings in Ft. Worth and Salt Lake City that were hit by tornadoes were totally unusable, but not because their structure was damaged: just all the innards and asbestos and wiring. In 9/11, the buildings did not collapse until 20 or more stories of weight started falling from the top.

Answer 2

It depends on how the wave hit. If it was a basic Tsunami like the massive one that hit a few years ago. No, probably not. They have a maximum height of around 20-30 feet. The structure of a building could survive that kind of hit. If you remember on 9/11 the building survived the hit of the airplane, which is much worse than the wave, but it was the intense heat of the first that cause the steel to weaken and give. Therefore the buildings would survive. But there is a slight chance of a mega tsunami. It could be caused on the other side of the Atlantic, I think on the continent of Africa there's a cliff that could technically fall into the ocean. If that were too happen it would be massively bigger than a normal tsunami caused by under sea earthquakes. Those waves could be hundreds of feet tall. The massive weight of a wave hitting a tower may cause the structure to fail, but I would probably doubt it.

Answer 3

The larger buildings would be able to take the water damage. But the real devastation is caused by the debris which is picked up on the way, things such as cars, trucks and buses, I've seen pictures, from a colleague who went to help after the Indonesian Tsunami, and there were smashed boats in the ruins of houses well inland. Imagine the damage a bus, train, or a large ship from the harbour could do to the base of a building.

Answer 4

depends on their shape, height, weight and ground anchorage. if the tsunami is like 3000 ft high the library will be wiped out but the Empire State Building may be severly damaged. a 3000 ft tsunami can only occur if a large asteriod hit somewhere in the atlantic, most tsunamis are 40 to 100 ft, so it will kill tens of thousands, but it wont cause the building to collapse.
plus tsunamis dont hit the east coast very often.

Answer 5

No. During earthquakes the safest place is open ground. After earthquake if you do not know the location of epicenter safest place to stay is away from sea shore and tallest buildings. The tallest buildings are more safer as for as Tsunami is concern.I have alerted the people through our local T.V. 2 hours before Tsunami struck our coast like this. I have sensed very big earthquake that I never heared in the history of earthquake. The sea water may raise to a greater height. Be ready to move to a safer place in case of emergency. My warning was ignored. I know what should be done during and after earthquakes.

Answer 6

I heard the best place to be during a tsunami is on the top of a building. Also, It's very unlikely a tsunami will hit NY.

Answer 7

2 in New York . Two were hit by planes. The WTC #7 collapse has caused much speculation as all it had were some fires and that would not have caused the building to collapse. Folks the Pentagon is in Arlington VA. Yes it was hit by a plane.

Answer 8

yes because the one that is holding the weight of the building is in the bottom........ if the tsunami is about 50 meters high and could spread 10 km inland the tall buildings could collapse

Answer 9

Depends on the size. The Atlantic Ocean is not much subject to tsunamis.

Answer 10

I guess that would be depending on the size of the wave. A tsunami in NYC is very, very unlikely but ........ anything can happen.