Author Topic: Treasure Valley Disasters... (Read 1286 times)

Idaho Corsair · « **on:** April 30, 2008, 02:09:11 PM »

So here it is. What kind of disasters SHTF scenarios are we most likely to face in the TV?
The gulf coast has it's floods and hurricanes, the Midwest has it's floods and ice storms/harsh winters, the central states have twisters etc... L.A. has it's earthquakes... you get the idea. The thought occurred to me, that of all places in the USA, our valley is insulated from these major events (or has been so far), but I'm trying to think of what we'd face here since a hurricane just isn't going to hit Boise.
My thoughts:
remote possibility, but potential earthquakes
power outages
food shortages

what else?

Jeff · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2008, 02:18:26 PM »

Earth quakes are a real possibility. There is a fault line that runs along Hill Rd.

When I was in the FD we planned for a failure of Arrowrock Dam.

fj40mojo · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2008, 04:11:00 PM »

Earthquake related failure of either Lucky Peak or Arrowrock is not out of the realm.

Idaho Corsair · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2008, 05:45:52 PM »

any projections you're aware of on the extent of the damage that it would do if LP was breached at full capacity?

Jeff · « **Reply #4 on:** April 30, 2008, 06:12:34 PM »

Well, at the FD we talked about damage if Arrowrock Dam failed. It would take out Lucky Peak Dam so things would be much worse. We figured that most of the river valley would be history. Including our fire station. I live up near Hill Road and it may not be safe this far up.

NGO · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2008, 07:37:08 PM »

Don't forget volcanos...

How do you think all these hot springs get hot?

I live far up enough to not worry about LP having a problem. Unless I'm at work or traving to and from. Guess I better add a life vest to my BOB!

bourneshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2008, 09:53:36 PM »

When I took the Canyon County CERT training under the guise of Dept. Homeland Insecurity, the main "Disaster/tragedy" we could brainstorm up was LP or Arrowrock failing and just responding to Ada County to assist in recovery or in setting up refugee points in Canyon County.

Its been a couple years since I was involved with the CERT program so I'm not sure what they are "wargaming" anymore.

Idaho Corsair · « **Reply #7 on:** May 01, 2008, 10:46:25 AM »

So, most of Warm Springs and the taller downtown buildings would be toast? I don't know enough to know if we're talking like a 50 ft wall of water when it hits Broadway, since it's 8 miles from Lucky Peak... I live downtown, so I'm wondering if I should waterproof my BOB stuff and ammo or not.

Jeff · « **Reply #8 on:** May 01, 2008, 11:23:23 AM »

See if you can find some video online of the Teton Dam failure. I would expect that or worse. Probably worse. I would expect that most houses 1-2 miles from the river, depending on elevation, would be toast. Through Eagle at least. There's a lot of water in Arrowrock and Lucky Peak.

The condition of Arrowrock Dam has been questionable for 10 years or more. An earthquake in the area could increase the odds of a failure.

fj40mojo · « **Reply #9 on:** May 01, 2008, 05:05:48 PM »

Combo of AR and LP would surely wipe out everything lower than the bench probably even higher. I live a long way up from the bench, but the New York Canal is just up the hill from my place and I wonder how much of a surge would go up the canal.

Kcboats · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2008, 04:31:52 PM »

Dont forget Cascade Dam... destroy most of Cascade and damage Horseshoebend but farmers would loose a large amount of agriculture water, so crops and cattle would suffer. On that same note, major dam failure like that would also cause problems for FDs when it came to summer fire time. No dam, no water, not put-em-out juice which would lead to rampant wild fires!! I also think we can not forget West Nile, pretty nasty little bug there.

fj40mojo · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2008, 06:51:22 PM »

Quote from: Kcboats on May 02, 2008, 04:31:52 PM

I also think we can not forget West Nile, pretty nasty little bug there.

No doubt! But, if the dams go there won't be as much breeding ground for the skeeters.

Orbital-Burn · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2008, 07:29:14 AM »

I went to the Voice of Idaho meeting for March I think, they had the top dude from Idaho Disaster planning or something. One of the senerios (sp) he went over was both dams going and had maps of projected flooding from that. I think it was the 500 years flood plane is all. But due to how much water the LP dam can put out, there is zero chance of that dam's failure without a terrorist act with huge amounts of explosives. The LP dam could easily handle the arrow rock dam failing

fj40mojo · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2008, 08:01:28 AM »

Is there any truth to the rumors that LP is compromised somehow?

bourneshooter · « **Reply #14 on:** May 09, 2008, 06:48:03 PM »

A friend of a friend had taken some geology class a few years back. According to them, the professor of this class said that most of the treasure valley is on a fault line. So if a earthquake hit, and Arrow Rock dam failed and taking out Lucky Peak, the water would be covering Ada County and that Canyon hill in Canyon County would be the only place in town naturally above water.

All of that is a couple years old but its probably still true.

Jeff · « **Reply #15 on:** May 09, 2008, 07:32:43 PM »

Quote from: fj40mojo on May 03, 2008, 08:01:28 AM

Is there any truth to the rumors that LP is compromised somehow?

Not that I know of. But there has been talk that Arrowrock isn't in great shape.

WTF · « **Reply #16 on:** June 02, 2008, 12:52:01 PM »

I feel the biggest threat for the greater/Boise/idaho area would be the Yellowstone park, since it's basically a Super Volcano waiting to pop. while it might only be 300+ miles away. and should it decide to blow in our lifetime, were screwed. not only from the blast, but the ash fallout would really put a damper on life here.

Yellowstone Caldera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image:Yellowstone Caldera map2.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

bourneshooter · « **Reply #17 on:** June 02, 2008, 04:06:20 PM »

Isn't there some rumors flying around that Yellowstone is 10+ years overdue for an explosion and it could be coming soon?

Jeff · « **Reply #18 on:** June 02, 2008, 04:22:33 PM »

Well, remember that guessing when a super volcano eruption is a new art. They "think" it's overdue but it could be a hundred year or more (much) before it happens.

WTF · « **Reply #19 on:** June 02, 2008, 04:37:49 PM »

I honesty don't think we have to worry about Yellowstone for a while. These days Volcanologists are able to detect signs of increased seismic activity before a Volcano blows. giving us few days head start. but then agian. Volcanologists have never witnessed or studied a Super Volcano like the one we have close by.

I think the biggest threat would be civilians converging into this area, since its ranked as the best place to go when SHTF.

either way, if it does blow in our lifetime, it will wipe out half the USA and then some. (Discovery Channel)

Orbital-Burn · « **Reply #20 on:** June 04, 2008, 11:16:27 AM »

June 17th, one of the local hospitals is going to be calling for help (drill type help) between 10am and 2pm just to see how many hams can be counted on...

Idaho Corsair · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2008, 11:32:31 AM »

orbital, you gonna let us know the results? Please do if you have access to them!

Orbital-Burn · « **Reply #22 on:** June 20, 2008, 11:18:49 AM »

I'm no member, and I was working during the drill, I have no idea. Can't even remember which net I heard about it on now, pretty sure it was one of the VOI nets though