Update on New Scientific Research of Earthquake Hazards to Seattle
April 12, 2012
Art Frankel and Craig Weaver of the U.S. Geological Survey gave a presentation to the Seattle City Council on Monday (as noted in this agenda) that has raised some eyebrows – and reaffirms our sensitivity to upcoming seismic disturbances. See their PowerPoint presentation or read on for a few copies of a few of their slides.
Earthquakes Maps Updated–For Eastern US
February 1, 2012
Thanks to the NY Times for noting the first update to eastern US earthquake maps in almost a quarter century. Sad that it was apparently only done to spur permitting of nuclear power plants.
New Fault Lines Revealed in Washington State
January 11, 2012
Two new articles from the Homeland Security Newswire and the Yakima Herald discuss new fault lines (maybe better described as extended and remapped fault lines) that the U.S. Geological Survey’s Brian Sherrod has been studying. It is too early to not consequences for these and the discovery doesn’t inherently up the likelihood for quakes, but will make future predictions more accurate and does expand our understanding of the mechanisms at work underground – where real faults are much more complex than simple two dimensional lines on a map. Click on the map to the right to see several views of the newly unveiled faults.
Introductory HAZUS Webinars Available
October 21, 2011
Hazus is a nationally applicable standardized methodology that contains models for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Hazus uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to estimate physical, economic, and social impacts of disasters.
How Severe was that Quake Anyway?!
April 25, 2011
King County OEM’s Pascal Schuback had a neat 138 character tweet today that took me well over an hour to digest:
VashonBePrepared Meeting to Discuss Little Known Vashon Earthquake Hazard
April 1, 2011
In just the last two years, federal earthquake scientists have completed analysis of the Tacoma Fault. As it turns out, the Tacoma Fault actually runs directly across the center of Vashon, the community that could be most affected if it ruptures. The latest computer analysis indicates that shaking from the fault could be as severe as the recent earthquakes in Christchurch and Sendai. That makes it doubly or even triply important for all of us to be prepared to sustain ourselves for as long as 10 days at home until help can arrive.