Two State Experts on Vashon Earthquake & Tsunami Risks + What You Can Do for your Home, Family & Pets!
March 26, 2012
VashonBePrepared is celebrating our 5th anniversary by sponsoring two of the state's foremost experts on Vashon's unique earthquake and tsunami risks. Recent scientific reports, a number based on lessons from Japan's devastating Tōhoku earthquake just a year ago, have all updated our understanding of the damage that will hit our region sometime in the coming decades or centuries. The only question is when - not if - it will occur.Fortunately these experts can help homeowners and families understand what each of us can do to protect ourselves, families, pets, livestock, businesses and property from these predicted disasters. A large portion of the evening will be set aside to get your questions answered. Handouts for families, home and business owners will also be available.
Read MoreUSGS Seismic Hazards Investigations in the Puget Sound
March 26, 2012
An ‘ongoing’ effort (but apparently in abeyance since 2002?!) to create an accurate seismic model for the Puget Sound region and British Columbia is the USGS’ Seismic Hazards Investigations in the Puget Sound (SHIPS) project. Since March 1998 SHIPS has conducted a series of seismic studies to better describe earthquake hazards in the Puget Lowland and British Columbia.
Video-- 2011 Earthquakes Worldwide–Plotted with Magnitudes
March 26, 2012Video– 2011 Earthquakes Worldwide–Plotted with Magnitudes
Read MoreScare Tactics
March 24, 2012
Some of our descriptions of potential disasters that might befall the Puget Sound region - and Vashon in particular - might sound a lot like crying “Wolf” to some. But there is a very serious reality out there, even if most of us haven’t been exposed to it in our brief lives here on earth.
Is Vashon at Risk for Tsunamis?
March 21, 2012
Most folks think of an overseas or Cascadia based quake as generating a terrible tsunami – and they are right. However such a tsunami is not likely to cause massive damage to Vashon from what I’ve heard – largely due to the moderating influence of the Straits of Juan de Fuca. (It will be interesting to verify this at our upcoming April 18th community meeting with Washington State experts).
DHS Preparedness Grant Funding Changes under Criticism
March 21, 2012
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed consolidating their grants program for fiscal year 2013. This was met with criticism in Washington DC Tuesday. Democrats particularly questioned the proposed consolidation of 16 individual grant programs into the National Preparedness Grant Program (NPGP) during a hearing of the House Homeland Security emergency preparedness subcommittee. There were calls for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), port grants, transit grants and the State Homeland Security Grant Program to remain separate funds. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter testifying for the US Conference of Mayors said NPGP grants would not guarantee any funding to large urban areas like Philadelphia.
Weather Spotter Training - Apr 26
March 20, 2012
Ted Buehner, Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the National Weather Service has announced a new Weather Spotter Training opportunity for the evening of April 26th.
Cascadia Quake Potentially More Damaging than San Andreas or Japan’s Tōhoku
March 11, 2012
In “Quake catastrophe like Japan's could hit Pacific Northwest, new data show” M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com also reports on last month’s reports at the American Association for the Advancement of Science – noting that the Cascadia quake has numerous parallels with Japan’s Tōhoku disaster one year ago.
15% Chance of Local Cascadia Quake & Tsunami in Next 50-60 Years
March 11, 2012
According to Bill Steele, the public is woefully unprepared for a certain disaster: we just don’t know when. Mr. Steele is Seismology Lab Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network (PNSN) at the University of Washington Department of Earth and Space Sciences where he has worked since 1993.
In Memory of the 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami
March 11, 2012
Just a brief note to commemorate those whose lives have been disrupted and lost by the Tōhoku disaster one year ago today.
PSE Crews working on West Side Power Outage
March 5, 2012Just a quick report that power (and phone) has been out for parts of the west side (near Redding's Loop Road at least) for ~3 hours. Apparently a large tree fell across the power line near 216th St. on 111th Ave. The tree has been removed at this point and crews are working on repairing the line. Hopefully power will be restored within a couple more hours or less.
Read MoreDHS grant funding slashes preparedness - in favor of terrorism prevention
March 1, 2012
The DHS recently released the FY 2012 guidance and application kits for seven grant programs that support the National Preparedness Goal. Grants total more than $1.3 billion, a reduction of nearly $1 billion from FY 2011 and $1.5 billion below the President Obama’s FY 2012 request. The DHS preparedness grants give priority this year to applicants in the nation’s highest-risk areas, including urban areas, with a focus on terrorism prevention. “Given the significant reduction in grant funding this year, we are maximizing limited grant dollars by setting clear priorities and focusing on the areas that face the greatest risk,” DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement.
38% of Americans Never Considered Getting Prepared; 20% to “Wing It”!
March 1, 2012
Not too surprisingly, disaster preparedness is not at the forefront of most Americans priority – but many don’t even have any plans. The original research was done by the Persuadable Research Corporation with reports of the survey released by PRWeb and the Homeland Security News Wire.