Megaquake Potential

Megaquake....it sounds like a straight-to-DVD movie or a delicious new treat from Dairy Queen, doesn't it? It's a bit more sinister than softserve. Here is an interesting article about how our local fault line is similar to the fault in Japan, but much bigger. Click here and take a minute to check it out and get more informed about the ground under your feet.

Happy 312th Anniversary!

Yesterday was the 312th anniversary of the last great Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake that hit the Pacific NW. The earthquake has been estimated at around a 9.0 after extensive research. Why is this important? Here are a few articles to peruse to learn more:
KGW.com
Wikipedia

Small Earthquake Reported under Mt. St. Helens

A small earthquake occurred under Mt. St. Helens early this morning. For more, click here.

6.7 Earthquake reported near Vancouver Island, BC

For the USGS report, click here: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0005rsj.php
That's a pretty large quake, a little too close to home....

What To Do If the Ground Shakes Under You!

Re-post from Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency Blog:

With today's earthquake on the east coast, CRESA would like to remind you how to respond and be prepared to face an earthquake should we experience a similar shaking feeling here.

The US Geological Service has the following guidance about earthquake response:

Q: During an Earthquake should you head for the doorway?
Only if you live in an old, unreinforced adobe house. In modern homes , doorways are no stronger than any other parts of the house and usually have doors that will swing and can injure you. YOU ARE SAFER PRACTICING THE DUCK, COVER, AND HOLD under a sturdy piece of furniture.

Q: What should I do during an Earthquake?
If you are INDOORS--STAY THERE! (Get under a desk or table and hang on to it, or move into a hallway or get against an inside wall. STAY CLEAR of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. GET OUT of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). DON'T run downstairs or rush outside while the bldg is shaking or while there is danger of falling and hurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris.

If you are OUTSIDE-- get into the OPEN, away from bldgs, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

If you are DRIVING--stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. DO NOT stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. STAY INSIDE your car until the shaking stops. When you RESUME driving watch for breaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road at bridge approaches.

If you are in a MOUNTAINOUS AREA--watch out for falling rock, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quake

Q: Things NOT to do during an Earthquake?
DO NOT turn on the gas again if you turned it off; let the gas company do it
DO NOT use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues, electrical equipment, appliances UNTIL you are sure there are no gas leaks. They may create a spark that could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosion and fire
DO NOT use your telephone, EXCEPT for a medical or fire emergency. You could tie up the lines needed for emergency response. If the phone doesn't work send someone for help
DO NOT expect firefighters, police or paramedics to help you. They may not be available.

Q: What do I do after an earthquake?
WEAR STURDY SHOES to avoid injury from broken glass and debris. Expect aftershocks.
CHECK FOR INJURIES (if a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound, use clean gauze or cloth if available; If a person is not breathing administer CPR; DO NOT attempt to move seriously injured persons unless they are in further danger of injury; COVER injured persons with blankets to keep warm; SEEK medical help for serious injuries

CHECK FOR HAZARDS (Fire hazards--put out fires in your home or neighborhood immediately, call for help; Gas leaks--shut off main gas valve ONLY if you suspect a leak because of broken pipes or odor; Damaged electrical wiring--Shut off power at the control box if there is any danger to house wiring; Downed or damaged utility lines--do not touch downed power lines or any objects in contact with them;
SPILLS--clean up any spilled medicines, drugs, or other harmful materials such as bleach, lye, gas;
DOWNED OR DAMAGED CHIMNEYS--Approach with caution--don't use damaged chimney (it could start fire or let poisonous gases into your house;
FALLEN ITEMS--beware of items tumbling off shelves when you open doors of closets and cupboards;
CHECK FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES--Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass; If power is off, plan meals to use up foods that will spoil quickly or frozen foods (food in the freezer should be good for at least a couple of days; Don't light your kitchen stove if you suspect a gas leak;
USE BBQ or camp stoves, outdoors only for emergency cooking; If your water is off you can drink supplies from water heaters, melted ice cubes or canned vegetables (AVOID drinking water from swimming pools or especially spas--it may have too many chemicals in it to be safe.)

Drop, Cover and Hold Off on Triangle of Life

"Drop, Cover and Hold" is still the best method for earthquake safety in the United States and especially in our own quake-prone region. This recommendation comes from the Cowlitz County Department of Emergency Management, in concurrence with the American Red Cross, FEMA, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Unfortunately, e-mails have been circulating on the Internet for years incorrectly touting the "Triangle of Life" technique which allegedly use voids as a way to survive earthquakes. Simply put, the technique is not applicable for earthquake experiences in the United States. "Drop, Cover and Hold is the appropriate response to Earthquakes in the United States. We simply don't build structures the same way here as in other parts of the world." said King County Office of Emergency Management Director Robin Friedman.

The "Triangle of Life" is not appropriate for use in the United States because the research used to illustrate the method was based on earthquake response and recovery in Turkey, a country very different from the United States when it comes to building standards, construction and engineering techniques, and building codes. Earthquakes in the United States do not typically result in total building collapse or "pancake." As a result, when earthquakes strike in the U.S., the safest thing for children and adults to do is "Drop, Cover and Hold" underneath a desk, table, or other sturdy strong surface. Since there is little chance of a building collapse in the U.S., there's no need to use the "void" provided by an object like a couch.

"The Emergency Management community has worked for decades researching earthquake response and recovery throughout the world and gathering best practices," said Bill Steele, University of Washington Seismology Lab Coordinator. "Patented or not, we know what works. In the urgency of disaster, people need to instinctively know what to do. And the right message is to Drop, Cover and Hold." Added Friedman: "It is unfortunate that misinformation can spread so quickly online. I hope that people will instead use their networks to share the proper ‘Drop, Cover and Hold' procedure with the same enthusiasm to get information to the people they care most about."

To learn more about earthquake safety and mitigation, please visit www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/DEM. For further information on flaws in the "Triangle of Life" theory, read this letter from the American Red Cross and an article from the Daily News.

Earthquake Info

According to the Cascadia Regional Earthquake Workgroup (CREW) earthquake study, there is an estimated 84% chance that the Pacific Northwest "will experience a serious, damaging earthquake within the next 50 years."

Check out the CREW website to learn more about historic earthquakes, risk reduction and learn how to protect your business.

We're living on borrowed time here people! Get prepared and get educated, it's not rocket science--it's common sense.

Is Your Vehicle Prepared?

Please take a moment to check out this blog post and accompanying video from our friends at CRESA (Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency). The video is from a dash-mounted camera during the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Click here for the post. If that happened to you---would you be prepared?

Drop, Cover, Hold Drill Coming Up on Wednesday

April is Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month. Citizens, schools and businesses are encouraged to conduct an earthquake drill this month. The statewide Drop, Cover and Hold Drill will be held on Wednesday, April 20th at 9:45 a.m. For more information on State Disaster Preparedness Month, check out the Washington State Emergency Management Division website here.

Why do emergency management officials ask you to practice drop, cover and hold? Because while you're practicing cowering under your desk with your head covered, we plan on stealing everyone's purse or wallet. Of course I'm kidding, we almost never do that.

But seriously, why is it important to do a Drop, Cover, Hold drill? As with anything, to react quickly, you must practice and make this reaction like second-nature. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake, before strong shaking knocks you down--or drops something on your head. For more information on what to do in an earthquake, check out http://www.dropcoverholdon.org/

Are We Experiencing an Earthquake Cluster?

From Sciencenews.org
Two U.S. Geological Survey scientists contend that the Japan quake bolsters their idea that the planet is experiencing a spasm of great earthquakes, its second since 1900. Are more large-scale earthquakes coming? Check out the www.sciencenews.org link to learn more about earthquake clusters. There is also more information on earthquake clusters in this article from the Wall Street Journal.

Japan Earthquake Photos

Click here for a photo gallery of the earthquake and tsunami. According to this great article from Time magazine, Japan is the world-leader in disaster preparation and proactive building codes for seismic events. Keep that in mind as you view the photos and consider what an 8.9 magnitude earthquake would do to Cowlitz County....

Video of 8.9 Quake in Japan

Interactive Earthquake Map

When researching more about the devastating earthquake that struck China earlier today leveling over 1,000 homes and buildings, I came across this interactive earthquake map. Click the link here to learn more about today's earthquake and then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to see the map. The interactive map shows areas where there are known faults, active volcanoes, active fault zones and more. Take special notice of the area of the world you live in. Yeah, it doesn't look good does it?

Nisqually Quake--10 years later

From the Washington State Emergency Management Division

February 28th will mark the 10 year anniversary of the 6.8 magnitude Nisqually Quake. According to the Washington Military Department, overall damage from the quake to public facilities, businesses and homes totaled between $1 billion to $4 billion according to damage estimates. Although centered in south Puget Sound, Nisqually earthquake damage was reported in as far east as Walla Walla. The Emergency Management Division (WEMD) of the Washington Military Department provided more than $150 million in assistance under the federal Stafford Act Disaster Declaration.

Overall, Washington is better prepared today for a major earthquake than in 2001. However, major challenges remain. Nisqually was not the “Big One, and based on the best and most current research, Washington could experience much larger and more damaging earthquakes.
The Washington State Seismic Safety Committee is in the middle of a three-year program called “The Resilient Washington State Initiative.” When completed, the program will outline our current resiliency to the state’s earthquake threats; identify specific goals to protect human life, property and economic recovery following an earthquake; recommend policies to the Governor / Legislature and identify performance measures to achieve those goals. For additional information about the Committee and “the Resilient Washington State Initiative,” click: http://www.emd.wa.gov/about/SeismicSafetyCommittee.shtml

Public interest in earthquakes ebbs and flows depending on major earthquake stories in the news. There is probably more awareness today around how to prepare than 10 years ago, but individuals need to take recommended actions to ensure that they and their loved ones are self sufficient for a period of time following an earthquake. Small disasters, like the severe snowstorm last November, reminds us that we often don’t take action until the last minute. But earthquakes are a no-notice event.
More information on earthquake preparedness activities is available at: http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_index.shtml

I was learning the intricacies of Shakespearean prose when the earthquake struck. What were you doing?

Just Because You Can't Feel It....

Doesn't mean it's not worrisome! Seismologists have noted that the earth under Mt. St. Helens is still rattling at times following Monday's 4.3 magnitude earthquake, though most of the quakes are too small to be felt. For more details check out the article on the Daily News website here.

Experts contend that the movement is not due to volcanic activity, but that really doesn't make me feel any better about the situation.

More Quake Info

For more information on today's earthquake and the recent swarms of earthquakes near Mt. St. Helens, click here to see the article from The Daily News. Hopefully these are just little "reminder rumblings" to remind us to review our emergency plans and make sure our disaster supply kits are up-to-date (and that they actually exist in reality and not in the oh-man-i-gotta-do-that-someday corner of our minds.)

Valentine's Day Quake

For more information on today's earthquake, click here. Surprisingly, we didn't feel it down here in the basement. Did you?

UPDATE: From Washington State Emergency Management Division: The quake has been re-examined and is now listed as a magnitude 4.3 at a depth of 3 miles. It is still believed that the quake was tectonic, not volcanic.

How did we here at DEM not feel that? We must have a case of the Mondays.

Did you feel it?

Our corner of the world just experienced a small earthquake, a magnitude 3.3, six miles NNW of Mt. St. Helens. Stay tuned for more info.

Small Shake-ups Rattling Our Area

There was a magnitude 3.2 earthquake in the San Juan Island region of Washington yesterday around 8:30 a.m. A few hours later a magnitude 4.7 and then 5.2 registered off the Oregon Coast. Both areas are located on the Juan de Fuca Plate. If you are interested in finding out about the latest earthquakes, be sure to bookmark the USGS website, which I find to be equal parts interesting and worrisome.

Statewide Earthquake Drill

April is Disaster Preparedness Month for Washington State and this year the focus is on Earthquake Awareness. Why? Watch the news, I am confident you'll figure it out. There will be a statewide Drop, Cover, Hold drill on Wednesday, April 21st at 9:45 a.m. All of our local schools and several local businesses will be participating this year. You can also be certain that I will be under my desk at 9:45 on that day too. (Who am I kidding...I'd probably be under there anyway hiding from my boss.) It may seem like a silly exercise, but you would be surprised how many normally sane adults will run outside screaming during an earthquake because the proper actions don't immediately spring to mind. That's why practicing what to do every once in awhile is a good idea. It's like parallel parking, you should brush up on it from time to time so that when you visit a large city and that particular method of parking is your only option, you don't look like an idiot and end up crying and parking 4 miles away. Not that I've done that. For a reminder of drop, cover and hold procedures, click here. For an article about the benefits of drop, cover, hold vs. "triangle of life," click here. For an important preparedness reminder, click here.