Earthquake: Disaster foretold in the Pacific Northwest
KING 5 Seattle・37 minutes read
The Pacific Northwest is at risk of a massive earthquake, with the last major one in Washington occurring underground near the Nisqually River, connected geologically to smaller quakes and the looming threat from the Cascadia fault. Washington State is taking steps to prepare for tsunamis, including building vertical evacuation towers and retrofitting schools, highlighting the importance of individual and community readiness for earthquakes.
Insights
- The Pacific Northwest, including Washington State, faces a looming threat of a magnitude 9+ earthquake due to the Cascadia fault, which has not experienced a major earthquake in over 300 years, highlighting the urgent need for preparedness measures like vertical evacuation towers and survival capsules.
- Washington State's comprehensive approach to earthquake preparedness involves collaboration with various partners, including federal, state, local, tribal, and private sectors, emphasizing community outreach, technical collaboration, and retrofitting vulnerable structures like schools to withstand earthquakes, showcasing the importance of collective action in ensuring safety during potential disasters.
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Recent questions
What geological threat does the Pacific Northwest face?
Earthquake stronger than Japan's, potential tsunami impact.
How is Washington State preparing for tsunamis?
Building vertical evacuation towers for safety during tsunamis.
What alternative evacuation option is available in Washington?
Survival capsule for immediate evacuation during tsunamis.
How can individuals prepare for earthquakes in Washington?
Emphasize individual and community readiness, have supplies for weeks.
What educational programs are available for earthquake preparedness?
Red Cross Pillowcase Project for children, emergency drills in Seattle.
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Summary
00:00
Impending Megaquake Threatens Pacific Northwest Coast
- The Pacific Northwest is at risk of a massive earthquake stronger than the catastrophic one in Japan, with the last major earthquake in Washington occurring 32 miles underground near the Nisqually River.
- The smaller earthquakes in Washington are connected geologically to the impending big one due to the compression of two large pieces of the Earth's crust.
- The ghost forest in Washington State, a result of a past earthquake, serves as a reminder of the potential violence that could strike again.
- The Cascadia fault, running from Northern California through Western Canada, has not experienced an earthquake in 319 years, indicating a looming threat.
- A magnitude 9+ earthquake is expected in the region, with the potential to generate huge tsunami waves, impacting areas like Seattle and Tacoma.
- Washington State is leading the way in preparing for tsunamis with vertical evacuation towers, like the Acosta school, designed to hold 600 people and provide safety during a tsunami.
- Geologists are simulating earthquake waves to determine suitable locations for vertical evacuation structures, with the goal of ensuring safety for coastal communities.
- The Acosta school tower, incorporating breakaway walls to allow waves to flow through, is a model for future vertical evacuation structures in the region.
- Washington's emergency management division is collaborating with experts to determine the number of evacuation structures needed and secure funding for their construction.
- The effort to build tsunami vertical evacuation structures requires a comprehensive approach involving federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, emphasizing community outreach and technical collaboration.
18:21
"Vertical Evacuation Towers and Survival Capsules"
- The tower is proposed to be built at the southern end of tribal property, serving both tribal and non-tribal members in Tok 'ln.
- Resources are available to be good neighbors to the community, with plans for vertical evacuation towers in Oakland and North Cove.
- The construction of multiple vertical evacuation towers could span decades, contingent on funding availability.
- An alternative option is a survival capsule developed by a Snohomish County company, utilizing aerospace technology.
- Julian Sharpe, an aerospace engineer, designed the capsule after witnessing the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
- The capsule aims to provide immediate evacuation to a safe space during a tsunami, preventing crushing by debris.
- The survival capsule underwent successful drop tests, proving its resistance to penetration.
- Different capsule sizes are available, including two-person, ten-person, and sixteen-person options.
- Washington State is focusing on retrofitting vulnerable schools to withstand earthquakes, with a budget request for $50 million.
- Preparedness for earthquakes is crucial, with emphasis on individual and community readiness, including having two weeks' worth of supplies.
35:02
Earthquake Preparedness: Kits, Communication, and Risks
- In the event of a major earthquake causing extended power outages and water shortages, lasting weeks to months, a Garmin satellite device is recommended for communication as it connects directly to satellites, not cell towers.
- Various lists are available online for emergency preparedness, with options like ready-made kits or 12-month plans to gradually stock up on supplies.
- Creating a communication kit for your car involves including cords, chargers, a map for alternative routes, and a meeting place, ensuring preparedness for emergencies.
- The Red Cross offers the Pillowcase Project, teaching children about preparedness by creating personal kits with items like flashlights, comfort items, and important papers, stored under their beds for easy access during disasters.
- Emergency drills in Seattle simulate responses to a 6.7 magnitude earthquake and potential tsunami, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency for up to three weeks, with communication hubs providing vital information.
- The Cascadia region faces earthquake risks due to the subduction zone, with the potential for a magnitude nine earthquake, highlighting the importance of understanding plate tectonics and learning from countries like Japan in earthquake preparedness.
- The Cascadia subduction zone, which hasn't experienced a major earthquake in over 300 years, poses a significant risk, with the timing of future earthquakes uncertain but potentially occurring within the next few hundred years.
