Did You Feel It? Small Earthquake Strikes Washington This Week
An Earthquake? In Washington? What are the odds?
Turns out the odds are high. Washington experiences hundreds of small earthquakes each year, and several of them are large enough to feel, but it’s really just the ones that happen in populated areas that get a lot of attention.
You can always check how many earthquakes are happening around the state at pnsn.org. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) is in charge of monitoring our earthquakes, and helps share information about them when they happen.
Washington is earthquake country, and while we prefer the small quakes like the one that happened on September 29th, there’s always a chance that we’ll have larger, more damaging earthquakes. Think of these small quakes as friendly reminders that being prepared for quakes is wise. It’s easy to forget when it’s been a while since a big quake (and other hazards and world events are on our minds), but it’s important to get reminders that yes, we do have earthquakes, too.
So what should we take away from this week’s earthquake? It’s an opportunity to learn about earthquakes in Washington. There are many sources of earthquake information here that can help you better understand earthquakes in Washington, and most importantly, what you can do to prepare for them.
We recommend visiting mil.wa.gov/earthquake, a website from the Washington Emergency Management Division (WA EMD), to learn more about earthquake hazards preparedness. There, you can learn about Washington’s earthquake hazards, some of their history, and a lot more about all the steps you can take now to get prepared to get prepared for the next one.
Washington Emergency Management Division’s page also links to a few pages for other organizations in Washington that can provide you with earthquake information. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has information about Washington’s faults, where earthquakes can occur, and about many other hazards, like landslides, or amplified ground shaking, that can occur during earthquakes.
That's why the annual Great ShakeOut earthquake and tsunami drill is so important. Each year, over 1 million Washingtonians should register for this drill, practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On, and practice their tsunami evacuation routes if they’re on the coast. We encourage everyone to take one time per year to take steps to practice and think about what they would do during an earthquake. It’s scary to think about one happening, but it’s a reality of living in Washington.
Take time now to learn about your earthquake hazards, but most importantly, all the things you can do now, to make sure you’ll be safer and more prepared when it happens!
Fortunately, this week’s earthquake was a small one. Let’s take it as a learning opportunity, and remember that now, before the next quake, is the best time to get prepared.
Learn about your earthquake and tsunami hazards in Washington, then join us for the Great ShakeOut this year at 10:15 am on 10/15.
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
