Hey, apocalypses happen. I mean, asteroids, the ice age, and with the way things are going…we could very well be headed towards another one in the next few hundred years. But don’t fret, I’m sure we’ll all be fine. Yet sometimes, the worst-case scenario expert in me decides to hypothesize just how North Carolina could be wiped off the map. Depressing, I know. 😉
- World War III
Flickr / Zach Frailey : The Uprooted Photographer Due to the large amount of Military and Marine bases in the state, I honestly think we’d be really safe in comparison to other states. I mean, Cherry Point is the largest Marine Air Corps base in the Nation. But, this could also work to our disadvantage with surprise enemy attacks etc. It’s a scary thought to even think of…but all we can do is hope for peace and protection.
- Earthquake
Flickr / Richard Walker Earthquakes are scary because the ground literally opens up and it can be hard to find serious safety in the event of one. North Carolina has several documented earthquakes, with the largest one being a magnitude 5.2 and occurring the 21st of February in 1916.
- And an earthquake induced tsunami.
Flickr / Warren Antiola Washington Post reports that one of two tsunami ’time bombs’ waiting to happen are actually right off the North Carolina coast. This would involve a “submarine landslide at the edge of the continental shelf” where conditions are already unstable. The impact would be an 18ft. high tsunami that would strike in a matter of hours. Scary…
- A mega hurricane.
Wikipedia When a hurricane hits North Carolina, usually the whole state feels the impact with heavy winds and rain. If we had a Hurricane Floyd x2 we’d need to take extreme precaution.
- Global Warming
Flickr / Pranav Yaddanapudi Though it’s one of the most controversial topics in the world, it’s difficult to ignore the scientific evidence. With our prime location on the Atlantic Ocean, a dramatic rise in sea level basically puts North Carolina ‘under tha sea.’
- Factory explosion.
Flickr / Kim Seng North Carolina has hundreds of factories throughout the state. But if one thing goes wrong, catastrophic consequences could occur.
- And from all that factory air pollution…serious amounts of acid rain.
Flickr / Numb Photo Acid rain occurs from air pollution, but the pH levels are too low to have an impact on human skin. This doesn’t mean it also has no serious affect on the environment. Acid rain destroys forests, kills mineral deposits in soil, erodes buildings, poisons lakes and kills aquatic life. On a large scale, it has the potential to disrupt the natural order of, well, everything.
- Some type of freak virus or gene mutation AKA a zombie apocalypse.
Flickr / Daniel Hollister With a population of almost 10 million, and several cities throughout the state, North Carolina would pretty much be screwed if this happened. We’ve all tried to drive out of Charlotte or Raleigh on a normal Tuesday afternoon and witnessed what a nightmare that can be. Could you imagine if something like this happened? The cities would basically be impossible to get out of (not to mention our MAJOR highways that run through multiple states). The ones who would survive would ultimately be smart enough to isolate themselves far up in the Blue Ridge Mountains before the virus could take its toll.
- Tornados!
Flickr / Rachel Gardner Sure, North Carolina is no Oklahoma but we’ve had our fair share of devastating tornados. The worst series being April in 2011 with a total 31 tornados hitting the Tar Heel state. Even though it’s not likely it would wipe out the whole state, if you think of the perfect conditions…something like in The Day After Tomorrow, our constant mix of hot and cold air is basically a tornado breeding ground.
- And to keep on the wild weather trend…a freak snow/ice storm.
Flickr / Andy McLemore In North Carolina, the weather makes its own rules. Worst-case scenario? A devastating ice and snowstorm paralyzes the state. We have no power, no bread, no milk. Then, two days later, when temperatures reach 70 degrees…extreme flooding.
Well guys, that was a fun walk down apocalypse lane. What did you think of our list? What would you add? How would you cope if any of these occurred? Tell us in the comments!
Flickr / Zach Frailey : The Uprooted Photographer
Due to the large amount of Military and Marine bases in the state, I honestly think we’d be really safe in comparison to other states. I mean, Cherry Point is the largest Marine Air Corps base in the Nation. But, this could also work to our disadvantage with surprise enemy attacks etc. It’s a scary thought to even think of…but all we can do is hope for peace and protection.
Flickr / Richard Walker
Earthquakes are scary because the ground literally opens up and it can be hard to find serious safety in the event of one. North Carolina has several documented earthquakes, with the largest one being a magnitude 5.2 and occurring the 21st of February in 1916.
Flickr / Warren Antiola
Washington Post reports that one of two tsunami ’time bombs’ waiting to happen are actually right off the North Carolina coast. This would involve a “submarine landslide at the edge of the continental shelf” where conditions are already unstable. The impact would be an 18ft. high tsunami that would strike in a matter of hours. Scary…
Wikipedia
When a hurricane hits North Carolina, usually the whole state feels the impact with heavy winds and rain. If we had a Hurricane Floyd x2 we’d need to take extreme precaution.
Flickr / Pranav Yaddanapudi
Though it’s one of the most controversial topics in the world, it’s difficult to ignore the scientific evidence. With our prime location on the Atlantic Ocean, a dramatic rise in sea level basically puts North Carolina ‘under tha sea.’
Flickr / Kim Seng
North Carolina has hundreds of factories throughout the state. But if one thing goes wrong, catastrophic consequences could occur.
Flickr / Numb Photo
Acid rain occurs from air pollution, but the pH levels are too low to have an impact on human skin. This doesn’t mean it also has no serious affect on the environment. Acid rain destroys forests, kills mineral deposits in soil, erodes buildings, poisons lakes and kills aquatic life. On a large scale, it has the potential to disrupt the natural order of, well, everything.
Flickr / Daniel Hollister
With a population of almost 10 million, and several cities throughout the state, North Carolina would pretty much be screwed if this happened. We’ve all tried to drive out of Charlotte or Raleigh on a normal Tuesday afternoon and witnessed what a nightmare that can be. Could you imagine if something like this happened? The cities would basically be impossible to get out of (not to mention our MAJOR highways that run through multiple states). The ones who would survive would ultimately be smart enough to isolate themselves far up in the Blue Ridge Mountains before the virus could take its toll.
Flickr / Rachel Gardner
Sure, North Carolina is no Oklahoma but we’ve had our fair share of devastating tornados. The worst series being April in 2011 with a total 31 tornados hitting the Tar Heel state. Even though it’s not likely it would wipe out the whole state, if you think of the perfect conditions…something like in The Day After Tomorrow, our constant mix of hot and cold air is basically a tornado breeding ground.
Flickr / Andy McLemore
In North Carolina, the weather makes its own rules. Worst-case scenario? A devastating ice and snowstorm paralyzes the state. We have no power, no bread, no milk. Then, two days later, when temperatures reach 70 degrees…extreme flooding.
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