Southern California has always been a region prone to earthquakes, but recent trends suggest an uptick in seismic activity. According to Dr. Lucy Jones, a leading seismologist at Caltech, 2024 has seen an increase in the number of earthquakes, reminiscent of patterns last observed in the late 1980s.

On August 8, 2024, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the city of Miyazaki on Japan's Kyushu Island. This event has raised concerns about the potential for a larger, more destructive earthquake in the future...

Discover the transformative effects of earthquake retrofitting based on Seattle's former Home Retrofit Program, initiated by the Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) in response to seismic risks. While the program is no longer available, its legacy of resilience continues to inspire homeowners and communities alike.

Earthquake retrofitting is a critical process aimed at reinforcing buildings, especially older structures built before modern seismic codes, against the destructive forces of earthquakes. In Seattle, situated within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, retrofitting is paramount for safeguarding homes and their inhabitants from potential devastation during earthquakes.

Parts of Western Washington received a ShakeAlert notification on Thursday morning following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake about 150 miles southwest of Port Hardy, Vancouver Island.

Seattle volunteers are actively preparing for potential natural disasters through community emergency hubs and ham radio communications. Learn about their efforts, the risks Seattle faces, and discover the importance of community collaboration and effective communication in the face of natural disasters.

Explore why deep earthquakes in the Cascadia Subduction Zone matter. Learn about the risks, recent events, and how to prepare your home and community.

In earthquake-prone regions like Seattle, ensuring the safety of your home is paramount. Explore the financial advantages of earthquake retrofitting and why it's a shrewd decision for homeowners. Discover how retrofitting safeguards your home value, reduces insurance costs, and ensures long-term financial stability. As responsible homeowners, it's not just about monetary prudence but also securing a safe and resilient future for our homes and loved ones.

 Dive into the latest USGS National Seismic Hazard Model to discover the earthquake risks we face. Together, let's build a resilient community. 

Discover the power of community resilience – where preparation becomes the catalyst for strength. Join us in navigating seismic challenges together and emerging stronger in the Pacific Northwest.

Discover the harrowing aftermath of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Noto Peninsula, leaving destruction, casualties, and impassable roads in its wake. Read about the government's response and ongoing efforts in the face of this calamity.

Prepare your home and family for seismic safety in Seattle: tips on securing your home, assembling emergency supplies, and creating an evacuation plan for earthquake readiness.

Read about Japan's swift response and global aid after the seismic chaos of the Ishikawa earthquake, a testament to resilience and global solidarity.

Remembering the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake. On December 26, 2004, a staggering 9.1-9.3 magnitude earthquake rocked off the coast of Sumatra, triggering devastating tsunamis across the Indian Ocean. This catastrophic event claimed the lives of approximately 230,000 people and left millions displaced or affected. ⁠

Did you feel it? Over Christmas, Western Washington felt a subtle 4.0 magnitude earthquake from Victoria to Tacoma. No damages reported, but it's a reminder to stay proactive with our earthquake safety plans. Let's ensure our preparedness for future seismic events. Stay safe, Washington! ⁠

 A 4.0 magnitude earthquake rattles Western Washington on Christmas Eve, a gentle reminder of nature's powerful rhythms. Stay informed, stay prepared.

The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, funded by a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation, is at the forefront of earthquake preparedness in the Pacific Northwest. This collaborative initiative brings together researchers from multiple institutions to study and plan for a potential magnitude 9 earthquake, known as "The Big One." With cutting-edge simulations, fieldwork, and a commitment to engaging with local governments, the center aims to provide critical information for evacuation planning, building codes, and infrastructure resilience. Their ultimate goal is to strengthen the Pacific Northwest's readiness for seismic events and ensure the safety of its communities.

Discover Seattle's seismic past and the looming potential for a massive earthquake in the future. Explore a recent study's findings on a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook Seattle 1,100 years ago and its implications for seismic preparedness. Stay informed about the city's earthquake history and the need for updated safety measures.

The enigma of earthquake lights that recently graced Morocco's skies. In this intriguing article, we delve into centuries-old accounts of these mysterious phenomena, known as earthquake lights (EQL), and explore the latest scientific insights. While EQL have baffled experts for generations, modern technology has brought us closer to unraveling their secrets. Join us on a journey through time and science as we seek to understand these luminous wonders and their potential significance in earthquake forecasting.

How $15 million in funding is shaping crucial earthquake research in the Pacific Northwest, enhancing preparedness for the anticipated 'Big One.'

Unraveling Earthquake Causes: Explore the Science of Earthquakes - Discover the forces behind earthquakes and their impact on our world in this insightful exploration of seismic phenomena. Delve into the hidden world beneath the Earth's surface, where tectonic plates dance and earthquakes occur. Join us on a journey to understand the mechanics, behaviors, and preparedness for these natural events.

Discover the resilience of Moroccan communities in the wake of a catastrophic earthquake. Uncover tales of courage, unity, and hope as responders race against time to bring solace to affected families.

In the early hours of February 6, 2023, southern Türkiye was struck by a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Remarkably, a mere 9 hours later, a second quake with a magnitude of 7.5 shook the region just 90 kilometers (60 miles) to the north. This dual seismic onslaught, known as the Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence, surprised experts with its intensity and destructiveness, causing extensive damage and loss of life in both Türkiye and neighboring Syria.

Explore how Istanbul grapples with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, as residents and authorities strive to prevent future calamities. Discover the challenges of demolishing unsafe structures, political disputes, and efforts to ensure the safety of a city perched on a fault line. Delve into the intricate balance between preparedness and politics as experts warn of potential earthquakes, and learn about the ongoing struggle of survivors in earthquake-affected provinces.

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake recently occurred in the vicinity of Bellevue, King County, Washington, USA. The report comes from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a leading global and national authority on seismic activity monitoring. The seismic event transpired early morning on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023, at 3:17 am local time. It originated at a shallow depth of 9 miles beneath the epicenter.

MILAN (AP) — Recent findings at the Pompeii archaeological site have uncovered new evidence suggesting that powerful earthquakes played a significant role in the demise of the ancient city, in addition to the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the first century. Experts revealed on Tuesday that the discovery of two skeletons buried beneath a collapsed wall supports this theory, offering further insight into the tragic events that unfolded.

A significant number of Americans reside in regions prone to earthquakes, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Los Angeles, where the impact of major seismic events can be financially devastating for structures and critical infrastructure.

The Alaska National Guard recently tested their emergency response strategies in the case of a significant earthquake and many tsunamis slamming southern Alaska and coastal villages during a continuity of operations exercise. The drill scenario comprised transferring the joint operations center from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska, and responding to a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in southern Alaska that had disrupted public utilities and caused extensive infrastructure damage.

A powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Hihifo Island, Tonga, in the South Pacific Ocean around 05:02 TOT May 11. 

Participating in a project to evaluate the performance of a 10-story building composed completely of wood during an earthquake simulation are researchers from the University of Washington. At the University of California, San Diego, the structure will be put to the test on a huge shaking table, with back-to-back shake testing starting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, PT. The structure is the tallest timber construction that has ever undergone such testing. Both the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake in California in 1994 and the magnitude 7.7 Chi Chi earthquake in Taiwan in 1999 are intended to be simulated by the experiments. But this time, the scene is in Seattle's Capitol Hill district.

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 has hit Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, leaving one man dead. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned of another potential earthquake with an upper 6 intensity. The earthquake caused buildings to collapse, and long tremors were felt, causing difficulty for people to remain standing.

We often hear there is a “37% chance of a major Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake in the next 50 years”.

When natural disasters strike, the size of the impacted area can affect how prepared you need to be for the aftermath. Let’s consider a worst-case scenario for the Western US.

Not every CSZ megathrust quake is a magnitude 9+. Magnitude is basically a function of rupture length. The longer the ‘unzipping’, the larger the magnitude.

Aid officials report that living conditions remain dire in Syria's northwest, three months after a massive earthquake hit the region, and funding for the humanitarian response plan is only 7% funded.

New laboratory research emphasizes the part played by rock roughness in the production of earthquake aftershocks. Researchers used granite cylinders to model sliding motions along a fault and discovered that fractures with greater roughness generated more aftershocks. This finding suggests that fault surface roughness may be a critical factor in the production of aftershocks after a major earthquake event.

Building Safety Month to be celebrated in May 2023 as proclaimed by Mayor Bruce Harrell in support of a national event sponsored by the International Code Council. In line with this, SDCI Community Engagement is hosting two online lectures in collaboration with the One Seattle Day of Service to help people be more prepared for unexpected events.

A series of strong earthquakes hit New Zealand's North Island today, just hours after the same area was hit by a 7.2 magnitude quake yesterday. The first quake struck at 10:16 am and was located near the rural settlement of Pōrangahau, at a depth of 21km.

Late Wednesday, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit the southwestern Muğla province of Türkiye, as reported by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). According to the statement, the quake occurred at 11 p.m. local time (8 p.m. GMT) and had a depth of 54 kilometers (33.5 miles), near the Aegean Sea off the coast of Datça.

In the next years, the Bay Area will likely suffer an earthquake unlike anything it has experienced in decades, according to experts, and one town in particular faces the possibility of caving in on itself.

A USC-led study has revealed that researchers can predict where Turkey's next major earthquake will occur, estimate its strength, and even pinpoint the spatial footprint of where damage is most likely to occur. However, the experts still cannot predict when the earthquake will happen.
 

A study on the discovery of warm liquid pouring from the seafloor off the coast of Oregon was just published by University of Washington researchers. The "Pythias Oasis" underwater spring is a special source of knowledge about the connections between marine activity and faults like the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Scientists might learn more from the site's studies regarding the connections between marine activity and earthquake dangers.
 

A parking garage in New York City's Financial District collapsed, killing one worker and injuring five others. The cause of the collapse is unknown. The incident caused concrete floors to fall on top of each other, crushing several cars.

A team of scientists from the University of Washington has made a remarkable discovery during a research cruise aboard a vessel off the coast of Oregon. While the team was dealing with a weather-related delay, the ship's sonar detected unexpected plumes of bubbles about three-quarters of a mile below the ocean's surface. An underwater robot was deployed to investigate the source of the bubbles, revealing that they were just a minor component of warm, chemically distinct fluid gushing from the seafloor sediment.

According to a recent study, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, an offshore fault stretching from Northern California to Vancouver Island, could be affected by a fluid leak, which might result in a gigantic megathrust earthquake. The study conducted by a team from the University of Washington indicates that warm fluid is erupting from the seafloor around 50 miles from Newport, Oregon. This fluid reportedly lubricates the fault, putting increased stress on it, which could lead to an earthquake of magnitude-9 that could target Seattle and Portland.

The tourist island of Bali and Indonesia's main island of Java were both shaken by a powerful earthquake on Friday, sending locals and visitors into a panic. As stated by the U.S. According to the Geological Survey, the earthquake had a depth of 594 kilometers and was located 96.5 kilometers (59.8 miles) north of the coastal city of Tuban in the East Java province (369 miles).

Scientists have discovered warm, chemically distinct liquid shooting up from the seafloor off Newport, Oregon, which they named Pythia’s Oasis. This unique underwater spring is sourced from water beneath the seafloor at the plate boundary, regulating stress on the offshore Cascadia fault. The fluid leaving the seafloor is warmer than the surrounding seawater and is believed to come straight from the Cascadia megathrust, offering clues to earthquake hazards. The discovery was made during a cruise aboard the RV Thomas G. Thompson, which was delayed due to weather.

The Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference is an annual event that offers subject matter experts and networking opportunities for businesses, schools, healthcare facilities, government organizations, and more to be prepared for disasters. Read on for more information about the upcoming conference.

In this interview, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Climate School, discusses risk mitigation, disaster preparedness, and government response to disasters. He talks about the challenges of disaster preparedness and how countries can ensure...

Learn about the renewed concerns regarding earthquake preparedness in San Diego and its potential impact on the city's residents. Discover what steps San Diego is taking to prepare for a potential earthquake and what Seattle residents can learn from this situation.

 Here at home, we've all heard of the potential for the “Big One” — a giant earthquake from the mostly undersea fault off the Pacific Coast. But ...

Puget Sound region, earthquake disaster, Turkey, Syria, seismicity, modern structural engineering, magnitude 7 or greater, Seattle Fault, Tacoma Fault, Southern Whidbey Island Fault, unreinforced masonry buildings, non-ductile concrete buildings, soft story, economic loss.

A powerful earthquake struck southern Ecuador, resulting in significant casualties across two nations. The quake has claimed the lives of at least 15 people and left over 100 injured.

Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and home to around 16 million people, faces the high probability of a major earthquake in the next 20 years, warns Professor Celal Sengor, one of Turkey’s foremost geoscientists. The city sits close to two key fault lines, the North Anatolian and the East Anatolian, and is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. A magnitude 7.5 earthquake along the North Anatolian fault could lead to the destruction of around 90,000 buildings in the city, with a further 260,000 facing significant damage, making around 4.5 million people homeless, according to city officials. The mayor of Istanbul has launched the city’s “roadmap for disaster preparedness,” which includes greater funds allocation for the city’s disaster preparedness program, new emergency points for citizens, and a rapid scanning system to assess the safety of the city’s buildings.

The United States is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, with several states experiencing frequent earthquakes due to their geological location and proximity to active fault lines. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), California, Alaska, and Hawaii are the states that have the highest number of earthquakes annually. These states lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region with intense tectonic activity due to subduction zones where one tectonic plate dives beneath another.

The aftermath of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has been devastating, with thousands of people losing their homes and loved ones. While rebuilding efforts have begun, there has been criticism of the slow and inadequate response from authorities. Many survivors are still struggling with trauma and fear, and NGOs are working to provide aid and support. The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but with continued efforts and support, progress can be made.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Turkey and Syria are still in dire need of adequate shelter and sanitation a month after a powerful earthquake hit the region. The United Nations has made an appeal for $1 billion to assist survivors, but funding is only at 10%, hampering efforts to tackle the humanitarian crisis. The disaster killed over 46,000 people in Turkey and around 6,000 in Syria, making it the worst disaster in Turkey's modern history. Recovery and reconstruction costs are estimated to be much higher than the $34.2 billion in direct physical damages, according to the World Bank. Aid groups fear a looming public health crisis with families still packed into overcrowded temporary shelters and infrastructure damaged by the quake.

Scientists have developed a new and more accurate model for earthquake forecasting by looking at how faults behave during previous earthquakes. The Long-Term Fault Memory (LTFM) model, which mimics the partial strain release on a fault and the specific timing of past earthquakes, produces more realistic earthquake probability models. This method can improve earthquake preparedness and be applied to other fault systems.

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, it's become clear that home retrofitting is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of families. With hundreds of thousands of people still living in tents and struggling with polluted air and health concerns, it's more important than ever to take the necessary precautions to protect your property and loved ones. Learn how retrofitting your home can prevent displacement, uncomfortable living situations, and dangers during an earthquake. Be proactive in protecting your family and ensure that your home is livable after a natural disaster. #earthquakepreparedness #retrofittinghomes #protectyourfamily

On February 28, 2001, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck 11 miles below the Nisqually Delta, causing significant damage in western Washington. This event marked its 22-year anniversary on February 28, 2023. Although the earthquake was over two decades ago, some people in the area are still not prepared for another potential disaster.

According to an article on MyNorthwest.com, Seattle plans to address over 1,100 buildings at risk of collapse in an earthquake. Additionally, more than 400,000 homes in King County need retrofitting, according to Leif Jackson, an expert on the subject. Jackson emphasizes the importance of retrofitting, stating that although it can be expensive, it will ultimately save homeowners money in the long run by preventing costly damage in the event of a major earthquake.

Millions of Southern Californians live in areas without retrofit mandates, and thousands of buildings in the region remain at risk of pancaking during earthquakes. Structural engineer Kit Miyamoto warns that Southern California is on borrowed time, and experts say that a major earthquake is inevitable. This article discusses the challenges of retrofitting soft-story and non-ductile concrete buildings, as well as the importance of earthquake preparedness and building safety.

Seattle is a beautiful city with rich cultural and architectural heritage, but did you know that it's also at risk of a major earthquake? The Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections has issued a warning about the potential damage and collapse of historical buildings and pre-1970s residential homes in the event of a seismic event. If you're a homeowner in Seattle, it's crucial to be aware of the risks and to take action to protect your home and loved ones. This article provides valuable insights into earthquake retrofitting and emergency preparedness to help you safeguard your single-family home in the face of seismic activity. Don't let your home become another statistic - read on to learn how to prepare for a potential earthquake in Seattle.

 As Turkey reels from the aftermath of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 35,000 people and left many injured and homeless, videos of the country's president hailing construction projects that crumbled have emerged, fueling public outrage over the slow efforts to help residents. The lack of safety features designed to absorb the shock of earthquakes likely contributed to the soaring death toll.

Last week's earthquake in Turkey left a mark that will be remembered for years to come. With remarkable footage and incredible stories from locals, this article examines the impact of the earthquake, the power behind the split olive grove, and the current rescue efforts taking place in the region.

Discover the deadliest earthquakes in history and the areas that are most prone to seismic events. Explore the science behind tectonic plate movement and the causes of earthquakes.

Discover the key factors that determine survival in the aftermath of an earthquake and learn how to increase your chances of survival if you are trapped in the rubble. Stay informed and prepared for disaster situations with our comprehensive guide.

Discover the reasons why preparing for earthquakes caused by Seattle's fault zones is important for the health, safety, and well-being of residents. Learn what steps you can take to minimize the impact of a seismic event.

The Seattle area is located in a seismically active region, with several faults and fault zones that have the potential to generate damaging earthquakes. For this reason, it's crucial for residents, particularly homeowners, to understand the importance of preparing for such events. In this article, we'll explore the different types of faults in the Seattle area and the risks they pose, as well as why preparing for earthquakes is so important. We'll also provide tips and resources to help residents get started with their earthquake preparedness efforts, including conducting a home hazard hunt, creating an emergency kit, and retrofitting homes with seismic upgrades. Whether you're a lifelong Seattle resident or new to the area, this article is a must-read for anyone concerned about the potential impact of earthquakes on their community.

Discover the state of earthquake safety in Seattle and the challenges faced by building owners in retrofitting buildings to withstand earthquakes. Learn about the efforts being made by the city to help building owners get the financial assistance they need.

Today marks the 323rd anniversary of the devastating Cascadia earthquake that struck the Oregon coast in 1700. With an estimated magnitude of 8.7 to 9.2, this megaquake caused severe shaking and land to drop by a staggering 6 feet. Just 15-25 minutes later, a massive tsunami hit the shoreline, causing even more destruction.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - The Earth's lithosphere, which is made up of rigid plates, often forms visible boundaries on the planet's surface known as faults when they brush against each other. These boundaries, such as the San Andreas Fault in California or the Denali Fault in Alaska, are capable of producing powerful seismic activity. A new research led by Brown University seismologists is providing insight into how these faults form and behave as they deepen. The scientists used cutting-edge data from a network of seismic stations to create a new 3D model of seismic wave velocities throughout Alaska, and found that changes in the thickness and internal strength of the tectonic plate that Alaska sits on play a key role in the location of Alaska's Denali Fault.

SEATTLE – The Green Lake Branch of the Seattle Public Library will be closed for an extensive period, beginning February 1st, as it undergoes a seismic retrofit. The city's Department of Construction has identified the Green Lake Branch, as one of the three historic Carnegie buildings, as being at high risk for damage and potential loss of life in the event of a major earthquake. In addition to the structural upgrade, the library will also receive new HVAC systems, accessibility improvements and interior modernization. The project is funded by the 2019 Library Levy and is expected to cost more than $7.5 million. The Green Lake Branch opened in 1910 and has not undergone any renovations since 1999. The library's Communications Strategist, Bennett Barr, stated that these improvements will help the branch provide ongoing services to those in need, both in terms of shelter and traditional library services.

Imagine waking up to your house shaking violently and not knowing when it will stop - this is the reality for millions of people who experience earthquakes. That is why it is so important to be aware of the deadliest earthquakes in the world and to take steps to prepare for earthquakes. By understanding the potential risks and hazards that earthquakes pose, we can protect ourselves and our families and be better prepared for the next one.

As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, it's important to be aware of the potential for earthquakes in the Seattle area. While the region may not have as high a risk for earthquakes as some other parts of the country, it's still important for homeowners to be prepared.

Are you ready for the big one? We know we are. But did you know that just having a retrofitted home can mean the difference between life and death?

Are you worried about how well your older home is built to withstand earthquakes in the Seattle area? Sound Seismic and the NE Seattle Tool Library invite you to join our upcoming webinar to learn more.

AS WE PREPARE OUR HOMES FOR WIND AND RAIN, IT'S ALSO A GREAT TIME TO WORK ON EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING.

We know you're excited about your earthquake retrofit. You've been thinking about it for a long time and you're finally taking the plunge! We want to make sure that your excitement doesn't end in disappointment, so we're giving you a few tips on what not to do when it comes to earthquake retrofitting.

We participated in the Great Washington Shakeout to help raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for earthquakes. We encourage everyone to take the next step and create or update their emergency plan.

California's SAN JOSE (KRON) — The Calaveras Fault strike-slip fault line produced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 and subsequent aftershocks, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The San Francisco Bay Area had not witnessed an earthquake of this magnitude in eight years when it shook San Jose just before noon on Tuesday. At a depth of 6.1 kilometers, the epicenter was located on the east side of San Jose. Two aftershocks, with magnitudes 2.9 and 3.5, were noted by the USGS.

The US Geological Survey classified the quake as "notable" west northwest of Lofall, Kitsap County. It occurred at a depth of 23.5 kilometers (14.6 miles).

The last thing you want to worry about during an earthquake is if your house will stand up.

The importance of fortifying homes that can withstand shaking forces and seismic activity cannot be overstated. These forces are what will eventually cause those who get caught in between collapsing house during an earthquake to be injured or worse, and not the actual tremors themselves.

In 2005, emergency management experts drafted a scenario for a magnitude 6.7 earthquake on the Seattle Fault - their predictions...

Earthquakes happen more often than you think, so it's important to know what you should do when one strikes!

Focusing exclusively on the immediate dangers is not the best course of action in today's interconnected society.

Today, catastrophic news spreads nearly instantaneously. With journalists on the site, government organizations providing information, and social media (for better or worse) tweets and the like quickly sharing photographs and videos, we learn about major earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons in close to real-time.

According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington State has the second-highest seismic risk in all of America. Although tsunamis are less often than earthquakes, they have occurred in Washington and are likely to do so again. As a result of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 621-mile fault that extends from northern California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Washington is more susceptible to earthquakes and tsunamis. According to the city of Bellingham Emergency Management, the zone currently produces major earthquakes and is predicted to do so in the future. A recent tweet from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources showed a simulation of how an earthquake may impact Puget Sound, with waves up to 42 feet tall hitting the Seattle Great Wheel and even TMobile Park.

Within ten minutes of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Seattle Fault, the first wave of a tsunami might reach Snohomish County. The Edmonds ferry port might experience waves that peak at five feet in 15 minutes.

No doubt, Mukilteo would have some consequences as well.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently issued a new research examining the effects of a tsunami brought on by a significant earthquake on the Seattle Fault, which included some alarming conclusions.

In addition to sending films, emails, and tweets, fiber-optic cables that go through the ground, along the seafloor, and into our houses have other uses. Anywhere the wire reaches the ground, these signals can also capture ground vibrations as small as a nanometer. Fiber-optic cables have long been used for unanticipated purposes, but only a small number of military and commercial applications have taken use of it.

In a pilot study at the University of Washington, fiber optic sensing is being investigated for seismology, glaciology, and even urban surveillance. The new UW Photonic Sensing Facility is supported in part by a $473,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, Washington. It has three decoder devices, or "interrogators," that use photons traveling through a fiber-optic cable to detect ground motions as small as 1 nanomeeter.

If you're on Washington's southwest coast when the Big One hits, you have a new way to avoid a tsunami. In Tokeland, Washington, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe dedicated a 50-foot tall evacuation tower on Friday. The new tsunami shelter platform, according to tribal officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, should serve as an example and an inspiration for other at-risk coastal towns.

The discovery of "slow" earthquakes revolutionized the area of seismic hazards just 20 years ago. Scientists are still actively searching for these cunning earthquakes today.

The most famous earthquakes in recorded history were sudden, severe, and unexpected shaking events. These and all earthquakes are caused by the tectonic plates of the Earth colliding slowly. They can cause tsunamis, damage buildings, and give people little time to flee.

At 6:22 on Thursday morning, a 3.1-magnitude earthquake was detected south of Black Diamond.

According to the U.S. Geological Society and Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, people as far north as Everett and as far southwest as Olympia reported feeling the earthquake, which happened at a depth of around 11 miles.

SEATTLE — More than 4,600 people have died as a result of the earthquake in Nepal, and many more are still missing, including two teenagers from Seattle.

Mega lottery prizes are nothing new to Americans, who occasionally dig through their pockets for a dollar or two to play and hope to become the next millionaire.

The news is a tad somber when it comes to the likelihood of actually winning the lottery. In reality, the odds of truly winning everything are so astronomically low that you're more likely to be affected by a natural disaster than to actually hit the jackpot.

According to a report released on Thursday by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, a tsunami caused by a significant earthquake beneath Puget Sound would reach our coastlines sooner and farther inland than previously thought.

Models predicted that a tsunami from a magnitude 7.5 earthquake would reach portions of Bainbridge Island, Elliott Bay, and Alki Point in three minutes and submerge Seattle's waterfront beneath more than 20 feet of water.

Liquefaction occurs when waterlogged, loosely packed sediments at or near the ground's surface start to lose strength as a result of violent ground shaking. During earthquakes, liquefaction beneath buildings and other structures can result in significant damage. 

A 9.7-magnitude earthquake is 200 years overdue in Washington State, according to current studies. According to experts, this earthquake near the Cascadia subduction zone will happen sometime in the next 50 years. 

Nearly every day there are earthquakes in Washington. Most are too little to be noticed or to cause damage. Even though they are less often, large earthquakes can seriously damage the infrastructure we depend on a daily basis, including our homes, offices, bridges, utilities, and buildings.

According to a provincial authority, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that shook Afghanistan's east on Wednesday was the country's worst in decades and left more than 1,000 people dead and numerous others injured.

The humanitarian catastrophe strikes as the Taliban-run nation is struggling with both an economic and food crisis.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the shocks occurred around 1:24 a.m. local time on Wednesday (4:54 p.m. ET on Tuesday) about 46 kilometers (28.5 miles) southwest of the city of Khost, which is near to the nation's border with Pakistan (USGS)...

You might see some intriguing activities in and around the Pacific Northwest, as well as on Bainbridge Island, during the week of June 12th. But don't be alarmed; this is only a drill. And it's a big one: planning for and responding to a 9.0 subduction zone earthquake and following 100-foot tsunami, which has been predicted for a long time...

This video is not real. It's part of the Cascadia Rising exercise run by the Washington State Department of Emergency Management. This is merely a test. Visit https://mil.wa.gov/cascadia-rising for additional information.

Humans are most at risk from an 8% possibility during the next five to seven decades. As a contrast to the earthquake in Nisqually. The earthquake on the Puget Sound Deep Fault registered a zero magnitude.

Humans are most at risk from an 8% possibility during the next five to seven decades.
As a contrast to the earthquake in Nisqually.
The earthquake on the Puget Sound Deep Fault registered a zero magnitude. 

This week, a group of New Zealand academics will publish their findings, providing a new way to address difficulties with earthquake-prone structures.

Many earthquake-damaged buildings in Aotearoa have been demolished rather than repaired because of precast concrete hollow-core floors, which are a uniquely New Zealand hazard.

However, the project team, which includes experts from the Universities of Canterbury and Auckland, will publish its findings in the Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand (SESOC) journal to help engineers and building owners who are considering retrofitting rather than demolition.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, a magnitude 4.1 earthquake shook California's Bay Area.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, there were no early reports of damage.
 

BEIJING, China – Authorities and official media said that two earthquakes struck southwestern China on Wednesday, killing at least four people and causing damage to homes.

Fourteen other individuals were injured, at least one of them critically, according to CCTV, the state television. All of the dead and injured were found in Sichuan province's Baoxing county.

The earthquake is predicted to be felt across the country if the Alpine Fault line ruptures. A large earthquake on the fault line has occurred roughly every 300 years over the previous 8000 years. The most recent one occurred in 1717. According to research conducted over the last two decades, there is a 75% risk of an earthquake on the Alpine Fault occurring in the next 50 years, with an 82 percent chance that it will be larger than an eight on the Richter scale.

A historic farm site that was destroyed by an earthquake last year will reopen to the public in part. The epicentre of November's 3.3 magnitude earthquake was close to Auchindrain township. The property will reopen on June 1 after necessary renovations, but some structures will remain closed to the public. The tremor took a toll on some of the site, according to Auchindrain director Bob Clark.

It's critical to have your home assessed for an essential seismic retrofit if you own a home.

Structures, like most things in life, deteriorate over time. Climate change, soil conditions, and outmoded building designs may all have an impact on the building's foundation...

FEMA Region 10 hosted the Cascadia Rising 2022: Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) from May 3-5 at the Pierce County Readiness Center in Camp Murray, Washington, to assess FEMA's coordinated response strategy to a major Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ).

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck western Washington on April 13, 1949. It had its epicenter near the coast between Olympia and Tacoma, and it was felt strongly in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia. It was the most powerful earthquake to strike Puget Sound since 1700. Eight people were killed, and dozens of others were seriously injured.

The earthquake that struck California on April 18, 1906 is considered one of the most significant earthquakes in history. Its significance today stems from the abundance of scientific knowledge it has produced rather than its mere size. The earthquake, which ruptured the San Andreas fault's northernmost 296 miles from northwest of San Juan Bautista to the triple junction at Cape Mendocino, astonished modern geologists with its huge, horizontal displacements and long rupture length.

Physical oceanographer, Angel Amores of the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Spain, said the shockwave took approximately 36 hours to circle the earth. It traveled at the speed of sound and spread in concentric rings from the Hunga Tonga, Hunga Haapai volcano.

A multinational team of academics has discovered evidence of a 3,800-year-old megathrust earthquake off the coast of Chile. The team reveals evidence of the accompanying tsunami and its influence on people living in the area at the time in an article published in the journal Science Advances.

Every year, around 4,000 earthquakes strike Canada. People in Western Canada are anticipating "The Big One," the next Cascadia subduction event in which the Juan de Fuca plate subducts beneath the North American tectonic plate with enough force to cause catastrophic devastation over southwestern British Columbia, including Vancouver and Victoria.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — A large earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Saturday, although there were no initial reports of injuries or major damage, according to the country's emergency department. 

An earthquake simulator was put up Tuesday at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to allow individuals to test their preparedness for "the big one.

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services constructed the simulator as part of a trip across the state for Earthquake Preparedness Month.

The simulator allows visitors to feel what it's like to be in an earthquake with a magnitude ranging from 3.0 to 7.0. 

The purpose is to provide people who have never experienced a major earthquake with the opportunity to do so in order to understand the need of being prepared.

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake recently struck just east of Australia. The quake struck at a depth of just over 6 miles near Tadine, New Caledonia. There was no immediate tsunami warning issued and no damage or injuries were reported.

The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake occurred near the Aleutian Islands, Alaska on April 1. The shock had a moment magnitude of 8.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). It resulted in 165–173 casualties and over $26 million in damage.

Sound Seismic Earthquake Retrofitting has won the Angi Super Service Award 2021!

Recognized for consistently earning high ratings and feedback from earthquake retrofitting clients. Sound Seismic was awarded this honor based on exemplary customer reviews in a variety of categories, including promptness, professionalism, cleanliness, communication, and value.

We're honored to have received this award for our dedication to making sure that our customers are satisfied with their earthquake retrofitting experience, We look forward to continuing to provide the same great service in the coming years!

On Sunday, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck about 455.5 kilometres (282.4 miles) south-southwest of Ohonua, Tonga, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake was at a depth of 10.0 km (6.21 miles), and it did not trigger a tsunami warning.

The Niigata Prefectural Government conducted the "earthquake damage estimate survey" for the first time in about 20 years, revealing that a tremor generated in the central Japan region of Nagaoka Plain could potentially kill as many as 8,000 people. It hopes that the study will help formulate a disaster response plan for the region and raise disaster prevention awareness among local citizens.

Natural disasters appear to be on the rise. The number of people killed by earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes has increased by more than 65 percent in the last 20 years. Scientists estimate that more than 478,000 people were killed in disasters such as tsunamis between 1994 and 2003, according to a UN report. In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami led to the deaths of more than 280,000 people—the most recent natural disaster to make headlines. The forest conservation community must learn from this devastating loss of life and ensure that forests can play a role in reducing people's vulnerability to natural events such as tsunamis.

March 23rd is Near Miss Day, a day to be grateful that a huge asteroid didn’t wipe us out! The asteroid came close to colliding with Earth on this day in 1989. It would have been devastating if it had actually hit us! Thankfully, it was just a near miss.

March 23rd is World Meteorological Day, a holiday that celebrates the World Meteorological Organization. This organization collects data from all around the world to help us get daily weather updates.

It’s difficult to imagine how life was centuries ago when people had to predict the weather by looking at animal behavior and changes in the sky. These days, the weather forecast is just a tap away on mobile apps, the TV, or radio stations. You can even get it online in just a few clicks. Current technological advances have also made it easy to predict events such as tornadoes and earthquakes, which means that people can take precautions in good time.

This is the third most powerful earthquake since 1965 in Indonesia; however, scientists were surprised by its small tsunami. The Nias–Simeulue earthquake occurred at 04:48 WIB (UTC+7) on 28 March 2005. The event triggered a tsunami with waves up to 2 meters over beaches on the west coast of northern Sumatra, although damage was minimal as the waves struck before high tide. Tsunami warnings were issued, although they were discontinued after an inspection of sea level readings.

This was a magnitude 8.6 magnitude earthquake that struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra with a hypocenter 30 km deep. Effects were felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) away and across the Indian Ocean on the Cocos Islands. 

 At least 915 people were killed, mostly on the island of Nias. The event caused panic in the region, which had already been devastated by the massive tsunami triggered by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

On March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2 earthquake occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The quake began about 25 km below ground, with its epicenter 6 miles (ca. 10 km) east of the College Fiord mouth. The quake lasted 4.5 minutes and was the most powerful recorded earthquake in US history. It was also the second-largest earthquake ever recorded.

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan's Fukushima prefecture on Wednesday, cutting power to millions of homes and prompting a tsunami advisory. The quake, which struck at 6:02 a.m. (2102 GMT Tuesday), injured at least 11 people, caused widespread damage and left millions of households without electricity. This is the same area that was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2011.

You might not think about it on a daily basis, but we live in one of the most seismically active areas in the country. In fact, the entire Pacific Northwest is ripe with faults from top to bottom! While many of these can remain inactive for thousands of years, they do have the potential to rupture.

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurred at 05:46 UTC on 11 March. The magnitude 9.0–9.1 (Mw) undersea megathrust earthquake had an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, 72 km (45 mi) east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region, and lasted approximately six minutes, causing a tsunami. It is sometimes known in Japan as the "Great East Japan Earthquake", among other names. The disaster is often referred to in both Japanese and English as simply 3.11.

On March 9, 1957, the Andreanof Islands earthquake with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII and a moment magnitude of 8.6 occurred (Severe). It took place south of the Aleutian Islands arc's Andreanof Islands group. The incident happened close to Alaska at the Aleutian Trench, a convergent plate boundary that divides the Pacific Plate from the North American Plate. A tsunami that was basin-wide followed, with Alaska and Hawaii feeling the consequences. Losses totaled about $5 million.

On March 2, 1933, an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 8.4 struck the Sanriku coast in the Thoku area of Honshu, Japan. The resulting wave wreaked enormous havoc.

On February 28, 2001, at 10:54:32 local time, the Nisqually earthquake struck and lasted for about a minute. The intraslab earthquake had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII and a moment magnitude of 6.8. (Severe). Although the epicenter was in the southern Puget Sound, northeast of Olympia, Oregon, British Columbia, eastern Washington, and Idaho all experienced the jolt. This was the most recent of three significant earthquakes that shook the Puget Sound region over a 52-year span and resulted in $1 to $4 billion in property damage. Several hundred people were hurt, and one person passed away from a heart attack.

"PASAMAN, Indonesia (AP) — A strong and shallow earthquake shook Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Friday, killing seven people and injuring 85, while causing panic on the island and in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore." - The Seattle Times

Join Sound Seismic at the Seattle Home and Garden show from February 26 - March 6, 2022, be sure to visit our booth and learn all about Sound Seismic Earthquake retrofitting!

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred at 10:22 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 between Cantwell and Talkeetna.

With a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, the 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami (Spanish: Terremoto del 27F) struck off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, February 27 at 03:34 local time (06:34 UTC). The strong shaking lasted for almost three minutes.

Numerous Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and La Rioja, experienced tremors. Nearly 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) to the north, in the southern Peruvian city of Ica, tremors were reported.

In the chaotic wake of natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes, communications are crucial to response and recovery efforts. Emergency response crews need to be confident that they have a reliable, resilient system to continue their communications and assist with rescue efforts.

The Chinese philosopher Chang Heng created the first seismoscope in the year A.D. 132. This was a sizable urn with eight dragon heads facing the eight cardinal directions of the compass on its outside. A toad with its mouth open toward the dragon was located beneath each dragon's head. One or more of the eight dragon-mouths would spew a ball into the toad's open mouth when there was an earthquake. Which of the dragons launched its ball depended on the direction of the shaking. According to reports, the sensor picked up an earthquake that occurred 400 miles distant but wasn't felt near the seismoscope. Since the seismoscope's inside is unknown, most theories presume that there is motion of some sort

The 1965 Rat Islands earthquake struck on February 4 at 05:01 UTC (19:01, 3 February local time). It had an 8.7 magnitude and created a tsunami on Shemya Island that was nearly 10 meters high, however it did very little damage.

On February 3, 1923, the Kamchatka earthquake struck. The Kamchatka Peninsula's southeast shore served as the epicenter. Hawaii was damaged by the tsunami that the earthquake caused, which had waves up to eight meters high. The perceived Mercalli intensity peaked at XI (Extreme). Two people died in Kamchatka and one in Hawaii as a result of the tsunami.

On February 1, 1938, the Banda Sea earthquake occurred, with an estimated moment magnitude of 8.4 and a Rossi-Forel intensity of VII (Very strong tremor). In the Banda Sea region, this oblique-slip event produced catastrophic tsunamis that reached heights of up to 1.5 meters, although no one was killed.

Earthquake awareness month is in February. Find out how you and your family can be ready for a significant earthquake.

Most houses built before the 1970s are not fastened to the foundation and have a very high risk of sliding off or collapsing when a significant earthquake occurs, making your home perhaps the most vulnerable when one occurs.

Learn the fundamentals of earthquake retrofitting and how it may shield your wood-framed homes from damage by watching this free webinar clip.

The epicenter of earthquake It was located 107 kilometers from Santa María de Nieva, in the province of Condorcanqui, at a depth of 139 kilometers.

A home's owners are being sued by the City of Bellevue after it was destroyed by a landslide in the middle of January.

Security has been stepped up after a break-in at the Bellevue home slide.

John and Barb Surdi spent twenty years residing in the three-story house before it collapsed. It's thought that a broken water main flooded the hillside beneath the building, which caused it to be thrown off its foundations.

The earthquake – estimated as between a magnitude 6.0 and 6.2 – was believed to have been centered in the Banda Sea, 321 km north-east of Dili, East Timor, and was felt strongly in Darwin.

SEATTLE — Methane is a significant greenhouse gas, and hundreds of plumes are emerging from seismic cracks beneath Puget Sound.

Paul Johnson, an oceanography professor who has been at the university since 1967, said of the latest research on the plumes, "I find it astounding." He has worked as a professor at the University of Washington (UW) for more than 50 years. "Nobody was aware that these plumes were present."

The US Geological Survey said that a 4.1-magnitude earthquake was felt early on Sunday in northern San Diego County.

The volcano explosion on January 15 near Tonga served as a sharp reminder of the dangers tsunamis pose. In the Pacific Northwest, where thousands of pupils attend schools that could be affected by a sizable tsunami, this has long been a problem.

Existing schools in Oregon and Washington are being retrofitted to withstand earthquakes. But local tax payers bear a disproportionate share of the cost of moving low-lying schools. In a coastal region of Grays Harbor County, Washington, a vote-by-mail school bond election is currently taking place to determine whether or not voters are willing to pay higher taxes to erect schools that are tsunami-proof.

According to the USGS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km at 3:46 PM NZT.

The National Emergency Management Agency stated on its website that after the earthquake, coastal inundation (flooding of land areas) was not anticipated.

One of the most severe natural disasters in recent memory was the tsunami that followed the eruption of an undersea volcano that struck Tonga on January 16. Despite the disastrous effects of this catastrophe, similar occurrences are rather typical because volcanoes are globally distributed, intrinsically unstable, and unpredictable.

SEATTLE - The U.S. has released a new iPhone app. Users receive alerts from the Geological Survey when an earthquake is imminent.

The new MyShake App, which was formerly an Android phone feature, gives crucial seconds or even minutes of warning before an earthquake begins to shake.

In the year 1700, an earthquake on the Cascadia Subduction Zone triggered a tsunami that wreaked havoc on coastal regions of Japan throughout the Pacific Ocean.

The 600-mile-long fault line connects British Columbia to northern California.

Over 40 earthquakes have occurred along the Cascadia Subduction Zone fault in the previous 10,000 years.

Following Monday's twin earthquakes that shook Haiti, two individuals were killed and more schoolchildren were injured.

In southwest Haiti, where a strong tremor killed more than 2,000 people last summer, the shocks sparked terror. The incidents on Monday also occurred a few days after the disaster's anniversary from 2010, which claimed more than a quarter of a million lives.

The first earthquake, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, shook the southern peninsula of the nation and sent residents of Les Cayes onto the streets.

On January 22, an earthquake-related collapsed gate to a residential building was visible in Oita, southern Japan. The Reuters
13 people were hurt after a 6.6-magnitude earthquake rattled southwest Japan early on Saturday morning, according to the authorities and local media.

The epicentre of the earthquake, which had a depth of 45 kilometers, was 45 kilometers off the coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). No tsunami warning was issued as a result.

On December 19, 2019, participants in a simulation simulating an earthquake in Ashkelon included the Home Front Command, Israel's Magen David Adom Emergency Medical Services, the Knesset Honor Guard, and firefighters.

The two earthquakes that shook Israel in less than 24 hours need to serve as a warning for the government and security agencies to get ready for an impending major one.

Beit She'an's mayor, Jacky Levy, claims that if a big earthquake occurred along the Syrian-African fault line, Beit She'an would suffer significant damage.

Israeli soldiers from the Home Front Command participate in an earthquake drill on October 21, 2012, in Holon, close to Tel Aviv.

According to government estimations, a massive earthquake in Israel is expected to kill 10,000 people, according to the mayor of the northern town of Beit She'an.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Newly released maps from the Washington Department of Natural Resources provide insight into what the coast of Washington may experience following a 9.0 earthquake. A significant earthquake is predicted to occur within the next 50 years, according to experts.

As a more complete picture of the devastation brought on by the eruption of an undersea volcano near the Pacific archipelago nation of Tonga on Saturday begins to take shape, officials and the Red Cross reported Wednesday that three of Tonga's smaller islands had sustained serious tsunami wave damage. The explosion was potent enough to cause a tsunami warning for the United States. Pacific Coast.
Few homes remain standing after settlements were hit with 15-meter (49 feet) high waves, according to a ship that reached the distant islands of Nomuka, Mango, and Fonoifua on Wednesday. Communications have been down throughout Tonga since the eruption, but Katie Greenwood, the head of delegation in the Pacific for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which had two teams there, said that the organization had two teams there.

Numerous earthquakes have shaken the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture for a year while crustal deformations persist, and scientists are still unsure of the cause.

Naoshi Hirata, chairman of the government's Earthquake Research Committee, stated after a meeting of the committee in December that "we have no clear notion why the seismic activity and the crustal motions are occurring." "Something we've never seen before could be happening."

In Suzu at the point of the Noto Peninsula, according to the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the ground has been steadily rising since around December 2020. The total land uplift has increased by nearly 3 cm in one place.

At least 22 people were killed in two earthquakes that shook Badghis province in western Afghanistan, which shares a border with Turkmenistan, on Monday afternoon, according to a local official.

As the first rescuers arrived at some of the isolated communities affected by the earthquakes in one of Afghanistan's poorest and least developed districts, there were concerns that the death toll might increase.

Seismic monitors on Mount Hood picked up the aftermath of the underwater volcanic eruption near Tonga in the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday.

After a strong undersea volcano erupted on Sunday, cutting off connections to the Pacific nation's outer islands, the fate of thousands of Tongans remained uncertain.

According to officials, tsunami waves in the capital, Nuku'alofa, washed vessels and big stones into the coast. In addition to the islands being blanketed in a heavy layer of volcanic dust, the shops along the coast were also destroyed.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his worry for Tonga's citizens on Twitter and said that the country "stands ready to support our Pacific neighbors" as they work to recover from the effects of a volcanic explosion and tsunami.

Members of the Washington Youth Preparedness Council for FEMA Region 10 offer some advice.

Hello, 2022! Many people in Washington are making their best New Year's resolutions as the new year approaches. They may have plans to stop watching streaming TV at home and start going to the gym more frequently, organize their messy home office, or start eating more healthy greens after recently bingeing on holiday treats and candy canes. All of these are excellent resolutions, but they can also be difficult to keep. So let me suggest another resolution for you, one where even the smallest effort will improve your situation.

The Cascadia fault will cause a strong earthquake that could have detrimental repercussions on Corvallis, Oregon, as evidenced by the recent spate of earthquakes off the coast of Oregon.

Experts believe that a significant earthquake with effects from northern California to southern British Columbia, Canada, could be caused by the Cascadia fault.

Geological evidence, tree rings, oral histories from Indigenous and First Nations people, and historical documents all point to the year 1700 as the last significant earthquake on the Cascadia fault line. According to Andrew Meigs, a geology professor at Oregon State University, little little is known about the fault's past or its potential for earthquakes.

Nearly 5,000 earthquakes have been registered since the Reykjanes peninsula's Fagradalsfjall earthquake swarm started on Tuesday evening. Southwest Iceland could clearly feel the sixth M4 earthquake since Tuesday at around 5:00 this morning.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California reportedly shook a substantial area of the state shortly after noon local time, according to data from the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake occurred just off Cape Mendocino, close to Humboldt County, and was felt as far away as San Francisco and Chico, both in California.
It began slowly before increasing up speed, according to William Honsal, the sheriff of Humboldt County, in a statement to CNN. "We haven't had a quake like this since 2010."

The Blanco Fracture Zone earthquake cluster off the coast of Oregon is a part of a wider active system of faults, underwater volcanoes, and actively expanding ridges that increases the likelihood of a significant earthquake along the Pacific Northwest coast.

With more than 1,100 structures in Seattle at risk of collapsing in the case of a large earthquake, city leaders might soon face that straight on. Seismologists generally to agree on the assumption that the Puget Sound region's next significant earthquake is less a question of "if" and more about "when."

Seismologists caution that if one crucial improvement isn't made, a new earthquake early warning system might not correctly deliver alerts that shaking is approaching certain regions.

Depending on where a powerful magnitude 9 earthquake begins along the Pacific Northwest coast, seismologists at the University of Washington worry that large population areas like Seattle and Tacoma may not get timely signs that shaking is on the way.

Based on their research, Mika Thompson, a PhD student, and Renate Hartog, network manager for the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, have new recommendations.

Through Pedram Javaheri

More than 40 earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from 3.5 to 5.8, rocked off the coast of Oregon on Tuesday, drawing the attention and alarm of millions in the area and igniting one of North America's most active fault lines.

The sequence of earthquakes, which started early on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, were all concentrated 200–250 miles (or more) west of the coastal town of Newport, Oregon, far enough to go mostly unnoticed on land but causing quite a stir considering the region's seismic history.

On November 11 at 04:32 UTC, the 8.5-magnitude Vallenar earthquake of 1922 took place in Chile's Atacama Region close to the Argentina border. It created a catastrophic tsunami that was seen as far away as Australia and seriously damaged Chile's coast.

The earthquake occurred in a site where the South American and Nazca tectonic plates are convergent at a pace of 70 millimeters per year.

Since the Paleozoic, Chile has been located at a convergent plate boundary that causes massive earthquakes (500 million years ago). Along this plate boundary, the Chilean coast has seen numerous megathrust earthquakes throughout history, including the largest earthquake ever recorded. The boundary most recently broke in central Chile in 2010.

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, a worldwide earthquake safety movement, encourages people to annually practice how to protect themselves during shaking to reduce injuries and even loss of life. In 2021, 30 million people have participated in ShakeOut, with more than 15.5 million who held drills at the International ShakeOut Day.

The 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake struck off the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The 9.0 Mw earthquake triggered a major tsunami that hit Severo-Kurilsk, Kuril Islands, Sakhalin Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR, on 4 November 1952...

In an earthquake, Drop, Cover, Hold. It stops you from being knocked over, makes you a smaller target for falling and flying objects, and protects your head, neck and vital organs. DROP down on your hands and knees.

Share the earthquake guide with loved ones and download a free copy!

Keeping your home free of dangers and equipped with home safety products can prevent mundane accidents such as falls and can protect you from emergencies like earthquakes, fires and more. Practice some good habits around your home to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Print a  copy of the Earthquake Guide for free!

We should be aware of hazards in your area beforehand. Once the hazards have been identified they can be handled properly, reducing or eliminating the risk of injury or death during and after earthquakes.

Get a copy of the Earthquake Guide PDF for FREE!

An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches. While they can happen anywhere without warning, areas at higher risk for earthquakes include Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington and the entire Mississippi River Valley...

On October 13 at 05:17 UTC, the Kuril Islands earthquake of 1963 took place. An incident with a magnitude of Mw=7.8 occurred seven days after the 8.5-magnitude earthquake. Tsunamis were seen in the Pacific Ocean's northern region as a result of both earthquakes.

Scientists are predicting in a new model what would happen if a tsunami hit Western Washington.

The simulator shows what would happen if a 9.0 earthquake hit the Cascadia subduction zone - also known as “the big one.”

The study estimates that the earthquake would generate a tsunami capable of submerging coastal areas as well as most of the shoreline in Puget Sound with several feet of seawater.

Three of the Sumatra earthquakes of September 2007 had a magnitude of 7 or above and were part of a series of megathrust quakes that hit the Sunda Trench off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. There were several tsunami warnings sent out for the region. With a magnitude of 8.4, the strongest in the series ranks among the top 20 largest earthquakes ever detected by a seismograph.

In the Nyingchi-Qamdo-Zhamo (Rima, Zayu) region of eastern Tibet, at least 780 people were killed and several structures were destroyed. Large landslides, ground fractures, and sand blasts happened nearby. Yedong, a settlement in the Medog region, washed away when it sank into the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River. Lhasa, as well as the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, felt the earthquake.

Additionally, the hills surrounding the Sibsagar-Sadiya region of Assam, India, sustained severe damage (X). In the Abor Hills, almost 70 settlements were destroyed, largely by landslides. The Subansiri River was blocked by huge landslides. A 7 m (23 ft) high tsunami that was caused by the natural dam breaking eight days later swamped many communities and claimed the lives of 536 people.

The dead toll from a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Haiti rose to 1,297 on Sunday, a day after the massive quake reduced thousands of buildings to rubble and sparked frantic rescue operations in front of a predicted storm downpour.

At least 5,700 people in the Caribbean island were hurt by the earthquake on Saturday, and hundreds more had to leave their damaged or destroyed houses. Some survivors had no choice but to wait outside in the stifling heat for assistance from overcrowded hospitals.

With the approach of Tropical Depression Grace, which is anticipated to make landfall in Haiti on Monday night, the destruction may soon get worse. Although Grace had lost some of its tropical storm intensity by Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center warned that it still posed a risk of bringing heavy rain, flooding, and landslides.

The strongest earthquake to hit the United States in fifty years struck off the coast of Alaska on July 28 at 10:15 p.m. Alaska time. A medium-depth earthquake, the Chignik Earthquake measured around 28.5 miles deep.

The M7.6 Simeonof Island Earthquake, which erupted on July 21, 2020, was located around 45 miles from the Chignik Earthquake's location. Although the Chignik Earthquake was the deepest of the two, they both occurred along the boundary between the Pacific plate that was subducting and the North American plate that was superimposing. There are thousands of earthquakes per year in the seismically active Alaska Peninsula. The interface, also known as the Aleutian megathrust, is where the greatest earthquakes occur. This interface between the Shumagin Islands in the southwest and Kodiak Island in the northeast was ruptured by the M8.2 event. This portion of the interface was already fractured by the 1938 M8.3 earthquake.

The strongest of the series was a 2.79 magnitude shaker near SeaTac. While it was likely too small for people to feel, it did draw the attention of seismologists...

Join us for a FREE Webinar on Earthquake Prepared and learn the ABCs of securing you and your home in the event of an earthquake. 

Damage from earthquakes is not typically covered by homeowner's insurance. Check the price of earthquake insurance in places like California, Seattle, Oklahoma, and other states.

Every day, earthquakes take place all around the planet.

While some of the earthquakes are not felt by us and can only be detected by seismogram recordings, others are felt but can cause significant damage and even fatalities. The challenging aspect about earthquakes is that you can never predict where, when, or how severe they will be. When an earthquake occurs, earthquake insurance is useful.

On June 23, 2001, M 8.4 earthquake near the coast of southern Peru occurred as the result of thrust faulting on the plate boundary interface between the Nazca and South America plates. At the location of the earthquake, the Nazca plate moves towards the east-northeast with respect to South America at a velocity of about 78 mm/yr, and begins its descent into the mantle at the Peru-Chile Trench, to the southwest of the June 23rd earthquake. This great-sized earthquake resulted in many casualties, the majority of which were associated with the subsequent tsunami and landsliding...

How Can I Avoid Hearing Loss Caused by Loud Noise?

The impact of noise on hearing varies with the volume (sound intensity) and duration of the noise (duration). The best protection is to stay away from noisy environments. Make sure you have proper hearing protection if you can't escape the noise.

At 8:32 a.m. PDT, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffers a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.

Called Louwala-Clough, or “the Smoking Mountain,” by Native Americans, Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has...

The greatest recorded earthquake was the Valdivia earthquake and tsunami of 1960, also known as the Great Chilean earthquake (Gran terremoto de Chile), which occurred on May 22, 1960. It was rated between 9.4 and 9.6 on the moment magnitude scale by several researchers. It happened in the late afternoon (19:11 GMT, 15:11 local), and it lasted for around ten minutes. Southern Chile, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, eastern New Zealand, southeast Australia, and the Aleutian Islands were all impacted by the ensuing tsunamis.

Here's a little history: By the 1880s, Norwegians were arriving in the Pacific Northwest in noticeable numbers. By 1910, more than 7,000 Norwegians lived and worked in the region. They lived all over King County but especially in Ballard...

Happy Norwegian Independence Day!

Norwegian Constitution Day is the official National Day of Norway, celebrated...

The Shake Alert System was first tested by the PNSN in 2015, and it was formally introduced in Washington State on May 4, 2021.

The technology will alert seismic stations monitored by the PNSN in real-time of any approaching earthquake movement close to the epicenter as the ground starts to tremble. This will give us more time to Drop, Cover, and Hold in the case of an earthquake.

A magnitude 8.1 earthquake near the Kermadec Trench was the third and largest earthquake of the three. This event is near the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that occurred earlier this afternoon, some 600 miles (950 km) north of New Zealand. While large, these earthquakes are remote and the USGS PAGER report is Green for fatalities and economic losses. The M8.1 earthquake is about 11 times larger than the earlier M 7.4 and occurred at a shallower depth (early estimates about 12 miles, or 20 km). The larger size and shallower depth increase the tsunami potential, and NOAA have released tsunami warnings for many islands in the southwest Pacific. The National Emergency Management Agency of New Zealand have also released a tsunami warning.

On Friday, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a fault running from Northern Vancouver Island to Northern California, will be brought to the attention of the northwest as a potential source of the largest natural calamity in North American history.

A megathrust earthquake with a magnitude of 9 occurred 318 years ago. The Washington State Department of Resources blogged about the occasion on Friday.

On January 26, 1700, a Magnitude 9 megathrust earthquake from the Cascadia subduction zone tore a 1,000-kilometer tear right off the coast of North America, shaking and flooding land from British Columbia to California.

With the tragic explosion of Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala and Kilauea's ongoing rampage on Hawaii's Big Island, the emoji for volcanic eruptions has received a lot of attention on Twitter and other social media in recent months. Emojis are a quick way to convey the essence of tornadoes, cyclones, and tsunamis, among other natural disasters.

However, there has never been a common representation of the natural catastrophe—earthquakes—that poses a threat to a third of the world's population.

On Friday, the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a fault running from Northern Vancouver Island to Northern California, will be brought to the attention of the northwest as a potential source of the largest natural calamity in North American history.

A megathrust earthquake with a magnitude of 9 occurred 318 years ago. The Washington State Department of Resources blogged about the occasion on Friday.

Concrete drilling creates silica dust.  Respirable Silica is considered to be "the new asbestos".  Beginning October 2018, contractors are required to prevent airborne silica dust by using a very specifie set of tools, vacuums and attachments.  Sound Seismic is fully compliant with requlations.  As a result, your home will be cleaner, and your family will be safer.

One of the best parts of being a retrofit contractor is the...

Sound Seismic's own Leif Jackson will be teaching a 2 hour class at the Phinney Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, February 12th.  It's only $25 ($20 for PNA members).  Click on the link to register!

Associated Press and KING 5 News 9:47 p.m. PDT June 1, 2015

SALEM, Ore. -- A series of earthquakes struck off the Oregon coast Monday but officials say no tsunamis were triggered...

Earthquake experts in Washington never miss a chance to scare the living daylights out of us, reminding us that this past Sunday marked the 314th anniversary of the last megathrust earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which, had we all been present, would have destroyed much of Seattle and the region's infrastructure.

And another one is overdue.

The Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup has therefore modified their scenario document to account for what an earthquake of that size would mean for us today.

The megaquake and tsunami that hit Japan two years ago are still having a hard time healing. The Pacific Northwest, which faces a similar catastrophe, is considering actions to take over the ensuing decades to prevent a massive earthquake from sending the area into a lasting economic slump.

Japan, the country with the best seismic defenses in the world, was shaken by a huge earthquake and tsunami that is similar to those that may someday hit the Pacific Northwest. The country will need another five to ten years to recover. There are still around 320,000 individuals living in temporary accommodation. Mountains of trash still need to be removed.

(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — Off Canada's west coast, there was an earthquake of magnitude 7.7, although no significant damage was reported. British Columbia residents were evacuated from some areas, but the province seemed to mostly avoid damage from the largest earthquake to hit Canada since 1949.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the strong earthquake struck the Queen Charlotte Islands shortly after 8 o'clock. It was located 96 miles (155 kilometers) south of Masset, British Columbia, and was at a depth of around 3 miles (5 kilometers) as of local time on Saturday. Both on the mainland of British Columbia and on its Pacific islands, it was felt over a sizable portion of the country. Shirley Bond, British Columbia's minister, stated that "it appears that the damage and risk are at a very modest level."

http://video.kcts9.org/video/1737194182

Scientists are still investigating the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan last year, and part of what they are learning is concerning for the Pacific Northwest.

Researchers presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Sunday. They found that detailed analyses of how the Earth warped along the Japanese coast indicate that shaking from a Cascadia megaquake may be stronger than anticipated along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - On Wednesday, a strong 8.6 magnitude earthquake and several strong aftershocks struck off Indonesia, forcing people to flee their homes as far away as southern India. However, there appeared to be little risk of a devasting tsunami similar to the one that struck in 2004.

Even in Aceh, the nearest province and the region that was devastated by the disaster eight years ago, no reports of damage or casualties had been received for several hours after the quakes, as Indonesia claimed to be doing.

It might take some time to determine whether there was any damage, though, since some of the isolated locations near to the epicenter are.

There was widespread fear of more tremors.

This afternoon, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake with a focal point between Acapulco and Oaxaca hit Mexico, but no injuries were reported.

The epicenter of the earthquake was 10 miles below and roughly 115 miles east of Acapulco.

Employees at two hotels in Oaxaca reported feeling a brief trembling but no actual harm or injuries.

One year after the terrible Great East Japan Earthquake, the world mourns the loss of life, pays its respects, and considers ways to stop similar tragedies in the future.

As Fukushima Prefecture and the country rebuild from the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, JAPAN'S indomitable spirit has been on soulful display for the past 12 months.

Events starting at 10 a.m. will honor the March 11, 2011, tragedy that claimed 20,000 lives. to 3 p.m. at Seattle Center on Sunday. The Fisher Pavilion is the site of the opening ceremony. At 2 p.m. The International Fountain's Kobe Bell, to the north, will ring. At 2:46 PM, there will be a minute of silence. when a 9.0 earthquake hit Japan's northeast shore and a 46-foot wall of water followed it.

President Obama commemorated the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to experience a nuclear meltdown.

In a statement released on Friday, Obama lauded the "amazing endurance" of the Japanese people as well as American efforts to aid in their recovery.

US," Obama stated. Experts still support Japan's ongoing attempts to address the issues brought on by Fukushima.

Obama appointed a task committee to assess safety at the 104 nuclear reactors in the US in the wake of the Fukushima accident. The task force made a number of safety reform recommendations last year, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is attempting to put into practice.

Sat., Feb. 4, 2012, at 5:23 p.m.

(Reuters) - On Saturday, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred off the coast of Vancouver Island, around 209 miles west of Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada. said the Geological Survey.

The largest city in British Columbia, Vancouver, was said to have felt the Pacific Ocean-centered earthquake, according to a post on the USGS website.

The earthquake occurred around 12:05 PM. local time, according to the USGS.

According to USGS seismologist Shengzao Chen, there was no threat of a tsunami as a result of the earthquake, and there have been no reports of damage.

There is now a possibility of 100-foot tsunami surges along the NW coast.

Emergency planners in the Northwest are unsure whether a similar earthquake here would cause a tsunami to be far larger than expected in light of last year's megaquake and tsunami in Japan.
NOAA
A computer simulation displays the path taken by a tsunami produced by an earthquake of magnitude 9 off the Northwest Coast. Scientists are trying to determine whether the large waves produced by the earthquake in Japan last year means a similar earthquake here could produce larger-than-expected tsunamis. Wave sizes are indicated by darker hues.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - After a strong earthquake struck the western Indonesian coast, authorities there issued a tsunami warning.

According to the USGS, the earthquake, which occurred 260 miles (420 kilometers) off the coast of Aceh province, had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

Its center was 30 kilometers (18 miles) below the surface of the ocean.

A tsunami warning has been issued, according to geological agency representative Arief Akhir.

Due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a ring of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin, Indonesia is vulnerable to seismic tremors.

On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake off the nation sparked a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed 230,000 people, almost half of them in Aceh.

Each year, Angie’s List honors companies that have achieved and maintained a superior service rating from our members with the Super Service Award. This is the highest honor given annually to companies by Angie's List, who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie's List throughout the past year.

Sound Seismic and Jackson Remodeling are honored to have been recognized with this award.

ISTANBUL, Turkey — A massive earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Monday, killing at least 240 people and injuring more than 1,000, according to Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay.

Mr. Atalay said in a televised address that rescue teams were still searching for survivors and reaching the dead in and around Van, near Turkey's eastern border with Iran. According to news reports, up to 270 persons killed.

The Turkish Seismic Institute said on Monday that over 200 aftershocks rattled the area throughout the night.

Fischer Broadcasting is hosting the first "What If?" Expo, this Saturday from 10-5.  Disaster preparedness and response experts will be exhibiting and presenting. 

Visit Sound Seismic's table to discuss retrofitting with Leif or Erik.  Or stop by the seminar stage at 3:30 to hear Leif talk about how our homes can be reinforced to resist earthquake damage.

The Sound Seismic Earthquakes, of Queen Anne Little League, won the city softball championships 2-0 on Monday, June 13, 2011.

The Quakes rallied from behind in two of their four tournament wins, showing their grit and determination. 

The championship game was a pitching duel, with SS getting two runs on only two hits, in support of starter Bella Jackson's no-hit shutout.

Anchoring, bracing, and connecting a home through a home earthquake retrofit is as easy as ABC.

Most homes built in the last 30 years or so do not require earthquake retrofits, but older properties may require foundation repairs. Ground shaking can cause significant damage if the foundation is not properly fastened to the rest of the construction.

The recent earthquakes in Japan, as well as strong tremors in New Zealand, Chile, and Haiti, have refocused attention on seismic safety at home...

Then there was the deadly quake and tsunami off the coast of Sumatra in 2004. Chile was then jolted almost as severely a year ago. Now, Japan is recovering after the country's most powerful earthquake in recorded history.

Three of the world's most violent earthquakes occurred within seven years of each other, prompting some experts to wonder if we are living in a megaquake era...

Following Japan's massive earthquake and tsunami, relief and terror mixed across the Northwest on Friday.

Though one person is believed to have perished and many ports in Northern California and Oregon were damaged, the majority of the region was spared by the storm.

However, photos from Japan of shattered buildings and ships, as well as houses and automobiles being washed away like trash, served as a stark warning that a quake and tsunami of similar — or greater — magnitude will strike the United States at some point...

SEATTLE — Scientists warn Northwesterners to pay close attention to the disaster unfolding in Japan because the same thing is heading our way.

The enormous earthquake that occurred Thursday night, accompanied by tsunami waves 20 feet high or more, is virtually identical to what the Pacific Northwest coast may experience if the offshore fault known as the Cascadia subduction zone ruptures.

"It's the finest illustration of what we're going to experience, and I'm sure Japan is better prepared than we are," said John Vidale, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network at the University of Washington. The Cascadia fault last ruptured in 1700, causing a magnitude 9 earthquake and a tsunami that may have been larger than the one that hit Japan. Major earthquakes on the Cascadia fault happen every 400 to 500 years, but new research suggests they might happen much more frequently...

EVEN the harrowing videos of Japan's 8.9 magnitude earthquake appear to stretch on forever. Images of the 23-foot tidal wave crashing onshore and its debris-laden onslaught inland are particularly distressing.

The natural calamity in Japan is a human tragedy with a specific resonance in the Puget Sound region. The unprecedented loss of life, damage, and economic devastation are heartbreaking. The sights are even more distressing by our awareness of our own weakness.

The quake, which struck 80 miles off Japan's eastern coast and was felt across a wide area, is the sixth biggest on record since 1900. Two days previously, the area had a 7.2 magnitude tremor, which geologists refer to as a forequake.

The sole indication that a tsunami had arrived in Washington on Friday morning was violent waves akin to any rainy day on the coast.

The first wave of the tsunami to reach the Washington Coast shortly after 7 a.m. measured 1.7 feet in La Push, nearly half a foot at Neah Bay and Port Angeles, and 1.3 feet at Westport, according to the National Weather Service.

The tsunami warning for the Washington coast remained in place, and further waves were forecast, according to Kirby Cook, science and operations officer for the National Weather Service in Seattle. More waves were crashing in California, which suggested that Washington and Oregon might be in for more...

CRESCENT CITY, CA — The tsunami warnings moved quicker than the waves, enabling millions of people throughout the Pacific hours to evacuate to higher ground. They are now left to clean up the aftermath of the waves, which have destroyed docks and ruined boats. A catastrophic tsunami triggered by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan rushed over the Pacific on Friday, breaking into marinas and ports in Hawaii and the West Coast, sending boats crashing into one another, taking others out to sea, and wrecking piers. The destruction, which was most severe in two beach communities near the Oregon-California border, was estimated to be in the millions of dollars. "This is simply devastating. I never expected to see this again, "Ted Scott, a retired mill worker from Crescent, stated...

A powerful tsunami triggered by one of the world's strongest earthquakes blasted onto Japan's eastern coast on Friday, killing hundreds of people as it washed away boats, cars, and homes while spreading fires.

The tsunami struck Hawaii hours later, prompting widespread warnings across the Pacific, including South America, Canada, Alaska, and the whole United States West Coast. After a reactor's cooling system failed, the area surrounding a nuclear power facility in Japan's northeast was evacuated.

After Japan was hit by a severe earthquake, tsunami waves swirl near a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture (state).

TOKYO, JAPAN - A powerful tsunami triggered by one of the world's largest earthquakes hit the east coast of Japanon Friday, killing hundreds of people as it washed away boats, vehicles, and homes while wildfires raged uncontrollably. The tsunami slammed Hawaii hours later, and warnings were sent across the Pacific, putting locations as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska, and the whole United States West Coast on high alert. After the reactor's cooling system failed, the area surrounding a nuclear power facility in Japan's northeast was evacuated.

Seattle sits on the type of ground that would amplify the effects of an earthquake. Scientists can't offer a firm prediction when the next one will happen...only the certainty that it will.

National Geographic YouTube video

New Zealanders have been given a rude awakening: it's past time to prepare for the "Big One," the long-feared massive earthquake that authorities have warned about for years.

Officials are assessing whether routinely dire warnings have yet led to the hoped-for sea change in the nation's preparedness as this small island nation picks up the pieces after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck its second-largest city, Christchurch, killing scores of people and trapping hundreds more.

According to Graeme Beattie, a structural engineer in Christchurch this week to look at the seismic reaction of structures, local building standards in place since the mid-2000s appear to have served the city well.

When large earthquakes strike in other parts of the world, SCEC is frequently asked, "What would have happened if it had happened in southern California?" alternatively, "How come there was so much damage (in the other place) despite the earthquake's small magnitude?" "Why was the damage in Washington so much less than the damage inflicted by the 1994 Northridge earthquake, although their magnitudes were so similar— 6.8 vs. 6.7?" SCEC was questioned after the recent earthquake in Washington state. This article compares the geological characteristics of the two earthquakes, which account for the majority of the differences in damage.

The news that at least 65 people have died in a 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, comes just days before Seattle's own commemoration of the Nisqually Quake, which struck on February 28, 2001 and lasted 45 seconds.
New Zealand's tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how different things could have turned out, as well as a cautionary note against complacency. 

A 12-person project team of scientists, civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers, planners, and emergency managers created a "Seattle Fault Scenario" in 2005. They pointed out that much of Seattle's terrain, both downtown and south of downtown, would certainly liquefy in the case of a significant quake, and that lateral spreading and landslides would be expected as well...

SEATTLE, WA, February 22, 2011 — On the tenth anniversary of the Nisqually earthquake, the American Red Cross invites citizens of Western Washington to assess their own earthquake readiness and make disaster plans.

The 6. 8 Nisqually Earthquake rocked Washington State ten years ago on February 28th. This earthquake struck between Olympia and Tacoma, 30 miles southwest of Seattle. The American Red Cross stepped in right away and helped 200 families in Western Washington.

Just off the coasts of Washington and Oregon is an earthquake fault comparable to the one that broke in the Chilean earthquake. It's known as the Cascadia subduction zone. It triggered a massive earthquake three centuries ago that sent tsunamis all the way to Japan.

Furthermore, our cities are comparable to those in Chile. "The building stock is significantly more parallel to ours than it was in Haiti, where there were no building codes to enforce," says MRP Engineering's Mark Pierepierkarz of Newcastle, Washington. He helps to design earthquake-resistant constructions, notably two in Santiago, Chile. He also aided in the construction of an earthquake what-if scenario for Seattle.

Experts in the northwest have warned that the catastrophic earthquake in New Zealand is akin to what could happen in the United States.

The quake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, a city the size of Spokane, along a fault line that had been undetected until late September. That's when an even bigger quake struck New Zealand, but it only caused minor damage because it was situated far away from any major cities. The death toll was expected to grow to 300, according to officials in Christchurch.

Scientists have discovered evidence of shallow faults in the northwest in recent years, such as the Seattle fault, which runs beneath Qwest Field and closely follows Interstate-90.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct and Magnolia Bridge in Seattle, the Washington State Capitol and the Fourth Street Bridge in Olympia. The control tower of Seattle Tacoma International Airport and unreinforced brick or concrete buildings in Seattle's Pioneer Square and Sodo neighborhoods all sustained significant damage. The level of seismic threat in the Pacific Northwest hasn't changed in the ten years after the Nisqually earthquake shook buildings, unsettled nerves, and rolled the ground in Western Washington. However, scientific understanding of the threat has progressed, and our ability to analyze and prepare for it has greatly improved.

The level of seismic threat in the Pacific Northwest hasn't changed in the decade since the Nisqually earthquake shook buildings, unsettled nerves, and churned the ground in Western Washington. However, scientific understanding of the threat has progressed, and our ability to analyze and prepare for it has vastly improved.

We've restored the damage, erected fire stations that won't collapse, strengthened freeway bridges, and strengthened a courthouse and ten years after the Nisqually earthquake, the area's main trauma hospital punched us in the stomach.

Thousands of homes, workplaces, flats, stores, and hospitals, on the other hand, have yet to be reinforced, and progress has been excruciatingly slow for many emergency planners. What needs to be done is quite clear. Money, a sense of urgency, and a carrot or a stick to motivate private property owners are all missing.

What is needed to encourage private property owners is money, a sense of urgency, and a carrot or a stick. Last week's catastrophic quake in New Zealand serves as a cautionary tale for what could happen here, according to experts.

Scientists understood a decade ago that Western Washington was vulnerable to considerably more powerful earthquakes than the magnitude 6.8 that shook Seattle on Feb. 28, 2001.

But it's what they've discovered in the ten years since the Nisqually earthquake that has some scientists concerned.

Following an earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday, a woman was rescued from a building.

At least 65 people were confirmed deceased after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake, according to Prime Minister John Key.
According to the Associated Press, Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker announced a state of emergency and ordered the evacuation of the city's downtown district.

Puget Sound's infrastructure, both buildings and social systems, should help it fare well in the face of the earthquake risk it faces in the next decades. But these guest columnists, board members of the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup, urge the region not to be complacent.

Washington State Department of Transportation, along with the City of Seattle, have begun inspecting key structures to help ensure the safety of area bridges in and around King County.

After citizens across the region felt tremors shortly after 5:30am on October 16, 2016, several important structures were inspected. Residents felt shaking as far away as Snoqualmie and Fall City. No damage was reported to any of the structures. Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes if possible until all inspections are completed.

The U.S. Geological Survey said a magnitude-4.2 earthquake struck Western Washington early morning, and residents in the Puget Sound region reported feeling it as far away as Seattle.

Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, John Vidale, shared that the quake happened at 7:51 A.M. and was centered at about 3 miles northeast of Mossyrock, WA