Washington’s Camano Island, home to about 13,000 residents, rests on one of the largest active faults in North America.
Back in 1820, the island lost a chunk off of its south end in a slide that triggered a.
Should history repeat itself, at least one local will be prepared. Architect Dan Nelson of recently designed a house that can withstand not only waves up to eight-feet tall, but also a 7.8-scale earthquake, and 85-mph lateral winds.
The 3,140 square-foot concept house allows water to flow through the two main floors, which are raised nine feet above ground and supported by a steel frame and strategically placed pillars. In between, glass doors designed to break upon impact take the pressure off the skeleton in the event of a tsunami. The shattered doors will also allow water to flow through the house.
“If the building was a solid wall instead of columns filled in with glass doors, the whole thing could collapse under the momentum of the wave,” Nelson told .
Not to mention, it’s a pretty swanky looking house and everything is certified waterproof.