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<br /> <br /> <br />.;,"0'" <br /> <br />\ <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />"f'."~.p, ~ <br />>, '(, . <br /> <br />.~v <br /> <br /> <br />Storm surges can cause tremendous damage. Buildings located on the ocean side <br />of protective dunes or in areas where dunes have been destroyed are especially <br />vulnerable. <br /> <br />I <br />I. <br /> <br />Coastal flooding along the <br />Atlantic Ccean and the Gulf of Mexico <br />is usually caused by high winds <br />accompanying hurricanes or tropical <br />storms. The North Atlantic coast is <br />subject to storms called "North- <br />easters". Persistent strong winds can <br />pile up water toward the shore, causing <br />a "surge" which can raise the level of <br />the ocean at that point by several <br />feet. The devastating effect of surges <br />is sometimes increased by the effect of <br />breaking waves on top of the surge. <br />Surge heights are also sometimes <br />increased by their coincidence with <br />high tides. In addition to surges <br />caused by wind, Hawaii, Alaska and the <br />west coast states are subject to <br /> <br />another form of large ocean wave called <br />"tsunami" which is usually caused by an <br />underwater earthquake or volcanic <br />eruption. These are often ~ncorrectly <br />referred to as "tidal waves". A tsunami <br />can also be caused by a large landslide <br />entering a body of water. <br /> <br />Some coastal and inland areas are <br />subject to flooding as a result of <br />subsidence, a gradual sinking of the <br />land. The sinking of the land surface <br />is usually caused by large withdrawals <br />of underground oil, gas, coal or water <br />but can also result from drought and <br />earthquakes. Problems of subsidance are <br />serious in about a dozen states. <br /> <br />9 <br />