Insights

National Weather Service Serves up Winter Weather for Winter Weather Awareness Week

• John Cornelison
• 11/10/14

[](http://www.weather.gov/satellite?image=ir)Most folks believe the National Weather Service just reports on the weather – but I remain skeptical. I actually think they know how to control it – when it fits their key goals. As conclusive proof, realize that the NWS proclaimed this week as _[“Winter Weather Awareness Week”](http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/seasonal/winterAwareness/?wfo=sew)_. As a direct result – not coincidentally as many naively assume – the nation is going to be plunged into dramatic Winter Weather. Is this a dramatic publicity stunt? One has to wonder. Regardless, whether we want it or not, be aware that [Western Washington will be plunged into freezing weather over the next few days](http://www.king5.com/story/weather/2014/11/09/freezing-temperatures-western-washington/18764343/). Much of the rest of the country will see much [worse weather](http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc3.html) – with bitter cold and heavy snows. Although suspicious, I assure you my previous blog – with guidance for Vashon’s Winter Weather – was purely coincidental. Despite what others say…

Vashon-Maury Island Radio Club Holds LACC and Repeater Show and Tell

• John Cornelison
• 11/5/14

Over 25 ham radio operators showed up for the local amateur radio club’s bimonthly meeting tonight at Vashon’s Emergency Operations Center.

Earthquake Resources

• John Cornelison
• 10/29/14

Here are some interesting resource pages for Earthquakes:

Earthquakes Data Magnitude 5.0 and Over 2005 - 2014
http://krilloil.com/blog/earthquake-data/

Seattle Fault Grows After Last Wednesday’s M4.0 Quake

• John Cornelison
• 9/22/14

At least our knowledge of the Seattle Fault’s extent grew. This is according to USGS researcher Craig Weaver, as quoted in today’s Seattle Times article.

Washingtons ‘Shake Alert’ Earthquake Warning System Would Need $17M Annually

• John Cornelison
• 8/27/14

According to UW’s John Vidale, as reported by KING-TV and The Seattle Times, getting an early warning system in place for WA would cost some $17 million annually. We’ve a rudimentary system, but that’s seemingly not ready for prime time. It apparently is a priority for California’s legislators, but not (quite yet) ours. Maybe that will change!

Updated Federal Quake Map Makes King 5 News

• John Cornelison
• 8/27/14

As we reported a month ago, the USGS has released a new earthquake map. King 5’s recent story on this is at:

Humans are Responsible for Many Disasters–The Infographic

• John Cornelison
• 8/27/14

I haven’t vetted the following claims, but suspect they are readily verified. All too often the short term gain is overwhelmed by the long-term consequences…

Now Available - Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage-A Practical Guide

• John Cornelison
• 8/27/14

The recent August 24, 2014 earthquake outside of Napa, California again demonstrated the seismic risk posed by a building’s nonstructural components. In general, the components of a building’s structural system that support the building and keep it standing—the frame, walls, and roof—performed very well in the Napa Valley earthquake. However, the nonstructural components of a building—the cladding, interior walls, ceilings, utilities, and contents – were responsible for more than 90 percent of the damage.

We're close to having our own radio station on Vashon!

• John Cornelison
• 7/25/14

Voice of Vashon has started construction on Vashon’s new radio station KVSH, building as funds come in. And Islanders donated over $3,000 at Strawberry Festival so their fundraising campaign is at 93% of the $50,000 goal.

New View of Rainier’s Volcanic Plumbing

• John Cornelison
• 7/25/14

This map shows, in purple and pink, the west-east line of magnetotelluric sensors that were placed north of Washington state’s Mount Rainier to study the volcanic plumbing system under the volcano. The sensors detect how the ground resists or conducts natural electricity within the Earth. Shown in yellow are seismic sensors that detect how fast or slow sound or seismic waves travel underground. Both methods were used in a new study that provides the most detailed look yet at the subterranean plumbing system that supplies the active volcano.

USGS Releases New U.S. National Seismic Hazard Maps–Now Incorporating the Tacoma Fault

• John Cornelison
• 7/24/14

From http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/new-insight-on-the-nations-earthquake-hazards/

“Important changes in Washington are related to the addition of the Tacoma fault and changes to the South Whidbey Island fault. The Seattle region hazard has not changed significantly because we use a very similar model for the Seattle fault as was applied in 2008. We have not modified this fault using the geodetic model.” from the USGS report, Pg. 192

Read More

Vashon Beer Prepared–not to be Confused with VashonBePrepared!

• John Cornelison
• 6/19/14

Please don’t confuse VashonBePrepared with Cliff Goodman’s neat new Kickstarter campaign just down the road: Vashon Beer Prepared!