A West Coast Shake Up Call

Los Angeles Seismograph 7:10 AM EST – Credit ABC TV7

 

# 6780

 

Residents in Southern California and the Baja Peninsula were on the receiving end of a significant seismic shock overnight, as a 6.3 temblor struck 160 miles off the coast at 2:36 am (local time).

 

No tsunami was generated, and no warnings went out from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Light to moderate shaking (Max CDI=V) was reported in San Diego and Ensenada according to the USGS.

 

There were originally reports of a second 6.1 shock, but that may have been a false reading as it no longer appears on the USGS earthquake feed.

The epicenters of these quakes were well off shore, and not along the famous San Andreas Fault which runs through much of California.

 

The USGS posted this Tectonic Summary.

 

The December 14, 2012 M 6.3 earthquake 250 km southwest of Avalon, California occurred as a result of shallow normal faulting within the oceanic lithosphere of the Pacific plate. This event is located some 400-450 km west-southwest of the plate boundary between the Pacific and North America plates – the San Andreas fault system in southern California – and is not associated with that fault system.

Instead, this earthquake represents intraplate faulting along northeast-southwest trending normal faults within the crust of the Pacific plate, just to the west of California’s continental shelf. The causative fault is not known at this time. At the location of this event, the Pacific plate moves to the northwest with respect to the North America plate at a velocity of approximately 54 mm/yr.

While the broad region surrounding the December 14, 2012 event experiences frequent earthquakes along the San Andreas and associated faults in southern California, the area offshore and within 250 km of this earthquake has not hosted any events greater than M 6 over the past 40 years. The largest nearby earthquake was a M 5.1 event 200 km to the northeast in June of 2004, 80 km west of the border between the US and Baja California. A M 3.3 earthquake struck approximately 35 km to the northeast in April 1981, representing the closest event in the USGS earthquake catalog.

 

While this morning’s wake up calls are unlikely to have caused any significant damage, they are a reminder that much of California (along with much of the world) is seismically active.

 

In 2010 (see Revised Risk Of `The Big One’ Along San Andreas Fault) scientists using better tools and techniques, determined that big earthquakes occur far more frequently along the San Andreas fault than was previously believed.

 

Major quakes have occurred – on average – every 88 years along the southern section of this fault line, or three times more frequently than prior estimates.

 

Which makes southern California long overdue for `the big one’.

 

Shakeout.org, which promotes yearly earthquake drills and education around the country, has been a leader in earthquake preparedness in California. 

 

And the county of Los Angeles – recognizing the many natural disaster threats that face their residents – has produced an excellent L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

Well worth downloading, and using, no matter where you live.

 

To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with these types of disasters, I would invite you visit the following preparedness sites.

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

And finally, some of my own preparedness articles include:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

The Gift of Preparedness 2012

»» Read More

Canada: Another West Coast Temblor

 

 

Credit Natural Resources Canada

 

# 7703

Overnight a 6.3 magnitude quake rocked the waters off British Columbia, the third 6+ magnitude quake to strike off Canada’s west coast in the last 10 days.

 

The first two, a 7.8  followed by a 6.3 aftershock, struck hundreds of kilometers further north on October 28th and for a time prompted a Tsunami advisory for Hawaii.

 

 
Given the size and location of last night’s quake, little or no damage is expected, except perhaps to the nerves of those who live along the shores facing the Cascadia fault line.

 

 

 

Recent warnings from the University of Oregon (see Shaken, And Hopefully Stirred) suggest the region is overdue for a major earthquake; one that could conceivably match the power of last year’s Great Northern Japan Quake.

 

Last March, in Tsunami: The Other Coastal Threat, we looked at the United State’s preparedness for both east and west coast tsunamis. While truly destructive tsunamis on American and Canadian shores are rare, they have happened in the past.

 

Hawaii and the west coast are considered at greatest risk due to the seismically active `ring of fire’.  

 

Credit USGS 

 

Perhaps the most vulnerable region is the Pacific Northwest, where the Cascadia fault line (see Just A Matter Of Time) is believed to have produced tsunamis in the past that rival the tidal waves that struck Japan last year.

 

No one knows when the next major quake will strike in this region, it could be today, or it could be fifty years from now.

 

When it does happen, it could seriously impact all of the Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, California, and through tsunamis, many distant areas in the pacific basin.

 

The only defense with earthquakes is a good offence; being prepared. Which is why British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, and California (along with other states and nations) recently conducted a Shakeout Drill.

 

 

To learn how to participate in your area’s next Shakeout drill, go to shakeout.org. But since the `big one’ might not wait until after next year’s exercise, now is the time to prepare.

 

Natural Resources Canada has a webpage with information on earthquake safety and preparedness.

 

Preparing for Earthquakes

• From Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
• Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada
• Emergency Preparedness for Youth  (Sécurité public Québec)
• How would your home stand up? A residential construction checklist to help reduce earthquake damage to your home from CMHC
• Tsunamis
• From the Provincial Emergency Program of British Columbia, Canada's most earthquake-prone province:  
• BC's Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council (EPICC)

 

And in the United States you can find earthquake information at Ready.gov’s Earthquake page.

 

Earthquakes

• Before
• During
• After
• More Information

 

And finally, a few of my preparedness blogs you might wish to revisit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

The Gift Of Preparedness 2011

 

Because no matter where you live, its just a matter of time before the next disaster strikes.

»» Read More

USGS: Eastern Earthquakes - Rare But Powerful

Map shows earthquakes (circles) greater than magnitude 3.0 since 1974 plotted on the 2008 USGS National Seismic Hazard Map for the central and eastern United States. Warmer colors on this map indicate areas of higher hazard. Larger earthquakes are represented by larger circles.

# 6700

 

 

Although big earthquakes are rare in the Eastern United States, historic accounts have suggested that when they occur the shock waves are felt much farther away from the epicenter than with earthquakes in places like California.

 

The Charleston earthquake of 1886, which was estimated to be between a 6.6 and a 7.3 magnitude, was reportedly felt (cite) as far away as Boston, Massachusetts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chicago, Illinois, Cuba and Bermuda.

 

The 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes were reportedly felt over much of the Eastern United States, with the USGS reporting that:

• People were awakened by the shaking in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Charleston, South Carolina.

 

Although this phenomenon has been talked about for years, direct measurements of a relatively large east coast seismic event have been lacking due to their relative rarity. 

 

All that changed last year when a 5.8 quake struck central Virginia.

 

The following shake map from the USGS shows the areas reporting shaking from two recent quakes, a 6.0 in Central California, and the recent 5.8 Virginia quake. By an incredibly large margin, the smaller eastern quake was felt over a much bigger area.

 

 

For more on this phenomenon, the USGS has details on a study, that is slated to be published next month in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.

 

New Evidence Shows Power of East Coast Earthquakes Virginia Earthquake Triggered Landslides at Great Distances

Released: 11/6/2012 8:30:00 AM

Earthquake shaking in the eastern United States can travel much farther and cause damage over larger areas than previously thought.

 

U.S. Geological Survey scientists found that last year's magnitude 5.8 earthquake in Virginia triggered landslides at distances four times farther—and over an area 20 times larger—than previous research has shown.

 

"We used landslides as an example and direct physical evidence to see how far-reaching shaking from east coast earthquakes could be," said Randall Jibson, USGS scientist and lead author of this study. "Not every earthquake will trigger landslides, but we can use landslide distributions to estimate characteristics of earthquake energy and how far regional ground shaking could occur."

 

"Scientists are confirming with empirical data what more than 50 million people in the eastern U.S. experienced firsthand: this was one powerful earthquake," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "Calibrating the distance over which landslides occur may also help us reach back into the geologic record to look for evidence of past history of major earthquakes from the Virginia seismic zone."

 

This study will help inform earthquake hazard and risk assessments as well as emergency preparedness, whether for landslides or other earthquake effects.

 

This study also supports existing research showing that although earthquakes are less frequent in the East, their damaging effects can extend over a much larger area as compared to the western United States.

 

The research is being presented today at the Geological Society of America conference, and will be published in the December 2012 issue of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

People who live on, or near, major fault lines are usually cognizant of the dangers, although not everyone is prepared to meet them. Those of us who live away from these seismic zones rarely give earthquakes much of a thought.  

 

But this study shows that a large eastern U.S. quake - even one that occurs several hundred miles away - can be felt, and potentially do structural damage.

 

Just as you don’t have to live on the coastline to be impacted by a hurricane, you don’t have to live on a fault line to be hit by an earthquake. 

 

Which is why emergency officials urge that while it is important to identify probably threats in your area, you really need to adopt an `All hazards’ approach to preparing.  You really can’t know if the next disaster to strike will be a tornado out of the sky, a shift in the earth’s crust, or a massive winter storm.

 

 

For more on how to prepare against `All Hazards', including those you may not automatically assume are a threat where you live, you should visit the following sites:

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

 

And lastly, you may wish to revisit some of my preparedness essays, including:

 

In An Emergency, Who Has Your Back?

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

NPM11: Are You Earthquake Prepared?

»» Read More

Shaken, And Hopefully Stirred

Location of last weekend’s Earthquake - USGS

 

# 6691

 

The 7.7 quake last weekend (see Haida Gwaii Quake & Tsunami Advisories) off the northern coast of British Columbia was a not-so-gentle reminder that the Pacific Northwest is not immune to strong earthquakes.

 

While the San Andreas fault in Southern California is better known, the Cascadia fault that runs along the Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and B.C. coast (well south of last week’s quake) is believed capable of generating a massive earthquake/tsunami combination, much like we saw with Japan’s Great Earthquake of 2011.

 

Based primarily on the fact that it’s happened before.

 

Last year, in Just A Matter Of Time, I described how records showed that 312 years ago an orphan tsunami struck the coast of Japan, without an accompanying earth tremor being felt.

 

It’s origin remained a mystery for years, but today scientists - looking at sediment levels and tree growth rings – can easily see evidence of a great quake (8.7-9.2)  occurring along the Cascadia fault at that time.

 

 

Although at the time of my previous blog there was evidence of a series of major quakes along this fault line, going back thousands of years, in August of 2012 a new study was published that suggests another quake is `overdue’.

 

The study, was published by the USGS, and may be read at the link below:

 

Turbidite Event History—Methods and Implications for Holocene Paleoseismicity of the Cascadia Subduction Zone

By Chris Goldfinger, C. Hans Nelson, Ann E. Morey, Joel E. Johnson, Jason R. Patton, Eugene Karabanov, Julia Gutiérrez-Pastor, Andrew T. Eriksson, Eulàlia Gràcia, Gita Dunhill, Randolph J. Enkin, Audrey Dallimore, and Tracy Vallier

 

 

For those who would prefer not to wade through the paper, we have a press release from the Oregon State University, that explains the findings.  Excerpts follow:

 

13-year Cascadia study complete – and earthquake risk looms large

8-1-12

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A comprehensive analysis of the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Northwest coast confirms that the region has had numerous earthquakes over the past 10,000 years, and suggests that the southern Oregon coast may be most vulnerable based on recurrence frequency.

 

Written by researchers at Oregon State University, and published online by the U.S. Geological Survey, the study concludes that there is a 40 percent chance of a major earthquake in the Coos Bay, Ore., region during the next 50 years. And that earthquake could approach the intensity of the Tohoku quake that devastated Japan in March of 2011.

 

“The southern margin of Cascadia has a much higher recurrence level for major earthquakes than the northern end and, frankly, it is overdue for a rupture,” said Chris Goldfinger, a professor in OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences and lead author of the study. “That doesn’t mean that an earthquake couldn’t strike first along the northern half, from Newport, Ore., to Vancouver Island.

 

“But major earthquakes tend to strike more frequently along the southern end – every 240 years or so – and it has been longer than that since it last happened,” Goldfinger added. “The probability for an earthquake on the southern part of the fault is more than double that of the northern end.”

 

The publication of the peer-reviewed analysis may do more than raise awareness of earthquake hazards and risks, experts say. The actuarial table and history of earthquake strength and frequency may eventually lead to an update in the state’s building codes.

(Continue . . . )

 

 

Since we can’t prevent earthquakes, and accurate prediction of when they will occur is beyond our technology, our only recourse is to prepare for them.

 

In January of 2011 I profiled a Washington state based preparedness educator Carol Dunn, who maintains an excellent website on the hazards faced by those living in the Pacific Northwest called 2Resilience.

 

You’ll find numerous resources geared for professional first responders, citizen volunteers, and families, individuals, and businesses looking to improve their level of knowledge and preparedness.

 

Many of us who follow @Caroldn on Twitter find her dedication and enthusiasm on preparedness issues to be quite contagious.  And if your interests lie in that direction I’d certainly recommend you include her feed.

 

Another resource I strongly recommend is Shakeout.org, which promotes yearly earthquake drills and education around the country.

 

For more on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

And to become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with these types of disasters: visit the following preparedness sites.

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

 

Because no matter where you live, its just a matter of time before the next disaster strikes.

»» Read More

Haida Gwaii Quake & Tsunami Advisories

Credit USGS

 

 

# 6672

 

Overnight, while I was offline, a 7.7 quake struck the sparsely populated Haida Gwaii region, or Queen Charlotte Islands, on the northern coast of British Columbia. 

 

There are no reports, as yet, on injuries or damages.  Since the initial quake, there have been dozens of aftershocks, some as strong as 5.1.

 

Crawford Kilian, over at Crofsblog, lives south of there on Vancouver Island, and has blogged a number of times on the quake including here, here, and here.

 

Although a minor tsunami was apparently generated, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has recently downgraded the earlier alerts for Hawaii with the following advisory.

 

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER  10

NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
101 AM HST SUN OCT 28 2012

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI ADVISORY

THE TSUNAMI WARNING IS NOW CANCELLED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII.

A TSUNAMI ADVISORY IS ISSUED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE

AT 1254 AM HST.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

   ORIGIN TIME - 0504 PM HST 27 OCT 2012
   COORDINATES - 52.8 NORTH  131.8 WEST
   LOCATION    - QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION

   MAGNITUDE   - 7.7  MOMENT

EVALUATION

BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA THE TSUNAMI THREAT HAS DECREASED AND IS NOW AT THE ADVISORY LEVEL AND NOT EXPECTED TO INCREASE. SEA  LEVEL CHANGES AND STRONG CURRENTS MAY STILL OCCUR ALONG ALL COASTS  THAT COULD BE A HAZARD TO SWIMMERS AND BOATERS AS WELL AS TO PERSONS  NEAR THE SHORE AT BEACHES AND IN HARBORS AND MARINAS. THE THREAT  MAY CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS. MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

 

 

During the summer of 2011 I wrote extensively on Canada & the United State’s west coast earthquake and tsunami threat in a blog called Just A Matter Of Time.

 

The location of this quake, well north of the populated centers of Vancouver and Washington state, greatly diminished its impact. 

 

The next time, we may not be so lucky.

 

Which is why, 10 days ago, more than a half million residents of British Columbia took part in The Great British Columbia Shakeout drill.

 

 

They, along with a dozen other regions around the world, practiced Drop, Cover, and Hold On! as part of this yearly event (see NPM12: A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Going On).

 

A destructive quake somewhere along the Pacific Northwest coast is, as I said earlier, just a matter of time. We can’t predict when, and we certainly can’t stop it from happening.

Leaving being ready for it as the only logical recourse.

 

For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

Everyone should have a disaster plan.  Everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

»» Read More

Reminder: ShakeOut Drills On Oct. 18th

 

# 6632

 

 

On Wednesday of this week more than a million residents of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia have pledged to take part in the inaugural launch of their The Great Southeast Shakeout.

 

They join a growing list of other states and regions who conduct this yearly earthquake drill, which instructs people how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On during a quake.

 

A video, demonstrating the technique is available on the California Shakeout Youtube Channel.

 

This year, there are 14 Shakeouts scheduled across the United States and around the world, with the bulk of them set for  10:18 a.m. on October 18th.

 

For details on when the Shakeout Drill is being held in your area - and how you or your organization can participate - click the map below:

If you live in any of these regions, I would encourage you to participate in, and support, these annual disaster drills.

 

As the map below indicates, much of United States is seismically active – with Alaska, Hawaii, the west coast, and the Midwest seeing the most – and strongest, quakes.

 

USGS map

 

Last year, in Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake, we looked at a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that endeavored to gauge the crippling impact that a highly feasible (and long overdue) 7.8 magnitude Southern California earthquake would have on jobs and local businesses.

 

Download PDF file

A quake of this magnitude, they estimate, could affect  430,000 businesses and 4.5 million workers and deliver a devastating – and prolonged – blow to the local economy.

 

While huge death tolls are considered unlikely in this scenario, the untimely demise of thousands of unprepared businesses is all but assured.

 

One of the most vulnerable areas to earthquakes (and tsunamis) in North America is the Pacific Northwest, where just over 311 years ago an earthquake and tsunami – likely on par with this year’s disastrous quake in Japan - struck the coastline.

 

 

You’ll find a greater description of this event, along with videos and simulations showing what a similar event today would produce, in my essay Just A Matter Of Time.

 

Since we can’t prevent earthquakes, or predict them, the only recourse is to prepare for them . . .  as individuals, businesses, and communities.

For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

Everyone should have a disaster plan.  Everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

»» Read More

7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Columbia

 

USGS Real time earthquake monitor

 

NOTE:  USGS now shows the quake to be a 7.3 mag

# 6598

 

A 7.1 magnitude quake struck the southeastern region of Columbia around 12:31 pm EST (16:31 UTC) today - roughly 61km (38mi) SSE of Popayan, Colombia – the capital of of the Columbian department of Cauca, with a population of roughly 250,000 people.

 

The USGS shakemap indicates moderate shaking could have been expected in Popayan and surrounding communities.  This was a deep quake (162 km), and so that may have substantially lessened its impact.

 

 

 

We’ve no word on damage, or injuries as yet. 

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a statement saying:

TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 1 NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI 639 AM HST SUN SEP 30 2012

EVALUATION BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII. REPEAT. A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII. THIS WILL BE THE ONLY STATEMENT ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED

»» Read More

Japan’s Earthquake: Learning from Megadisasters

 

 

# 6588

 

 

We are a little more than 18 months since the Great Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 - and while much progress has been made - much work still remains ahead to safely secure the damaged nuclear reactors, and to rebuild shattered lives and communities.

 

The events of March 11th, 2011 were far more complex and devastating than any emergency plan had previously considered;  A 9.0 earthquake spawning a massive tsunami, that would not only demolish coastal towns killing thousands, but would heavily damage nuclear power facilities as well.

 

While the term megadisaster is often bandied about, in this instance, it is an appropriate description. 

 

Via Reliefweb, we’ve the first phase of a joint project by the GFDRR, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank that should be of particular interest to emergency management officials and planners around the world:

 

The Great East Japan Earthquake: Learning from Megadisasters

Report

Download PDF (661.78 KB) Knowledge Notes Executive Summary

Download PDF (374.64 KB) Brochure

<EXCERPT>

Learning from Megadisasters, a knowledge-sharing project sponsored by the Government of Japan and the World Bank, is collecting and analyzing information, data, and evaluations performed by academic and research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and the private sector—all with the objective of sharing Japan’s knowledge on disaster risk management (DRM) and postdisaster reconstruction with countries vulnerable to disasters.  The World Bank and the Japanese government hope that these findings will encourage countries to mainstream DRM in their development policies and planning.

(Continue . . . )

»» Read More

NPM12: A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Going On

Note: This is day 11 of National Preparedness Month.  Follow this year’s campaign on Twitter by searching for the #NPM or #NPM12 hash tag.

 

This month, as part of NPM12, I’ll be rerunning some updated  preparedness essays (like this one) , along with some new ones.

 

# 6548

 

The Great California Shakeout drill, which began in 2008, has now generated 15 spinoffs around the world, and most of those drills are scheduled for the month of October.

 

 

(click image to visit Shakeout.org)

Millions of residents, from the United States and Canada, to New Zealand, Italy, and Japan, will take part in this yearly Drop, Cover, & Hold On drill. A video, demonstrating the technique is available on the California Shakeout Youtube Channel.

 

 

If you live in any of these regions, I would encourage you to participate in, and support, these annual disaster drills.

 

As you can see by the map below, much of United States is seismically active – with Alaska, Hawaii, the west coast, and the Midwest seeing the most – and strongest, quakes.

USGS map

Last year, in Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake, we looked at a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that endeavored to gauge the crippling impact that a highly feasible (and long overdue) 7.8 magnitude Southern California earthquake would have on jobs and local businesses.

 

Download PDF file

A quake of this magnitude, they estimate, could affect  430,000 businesses and 4.5 million workers and deliver a devastating – and prolonged – blow to the local economy.

 

While huge death tolls are considered unlikely in this scenario, the untimely demise of thousands of unprepared businesses is all but assured.

 

One of the most vulnerable areas to earthquakes (and tsunamis) in North America is the Pacific Northwest, where just over 311 years ago an earthquake and tsunami – likely on par with this year’s disastrous quake in Japan - struck the coastline.

 

You’ll find a greater description of this event, along with videos and simulations showing what a similar event today would produce, in my essay Just A Matter Of Time.

 

Since we can’t prevent earthquakes, or predict them, the only recourse is to prepare for them . . .  as individuals, businesses, and communities.

For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

 

Everyone should have a disaster plan.  Everyone should have a good first aid kit, a `bug-out bag’, and sufficient emergency supplies to last a bare minimum of 72 hours.

 

For more on  disaster preparedness, I would invite you to visit:

 

When 72 Hours Isn’t Enough

The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide

An Appropriate Level Of Preparedness

»» Read More

Hawaii & Japan Tsunami Advisories

 

**** UPDATE:  USGS lowers Magnitude to 7.6 ****

**** UPDATE: Tsunami Watch For Hawaii Cancelled ****

BULLETIN
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER   2
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
331 AM HST FRI AUG 31 2012

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI WATCH CANCELLATION

THE EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE IS REDUCED.

THE TSUNAMI WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE
AT 0331 AM HST.

USGS Shake map

 

# 6528

 

Although it is not yet known whether a tsunami was generated by the 7.9 earthquake that occurred within the last hour east of the Philippines, Japan has issued a tsunami advisory, and Hawaii is under a tsunami watch.

 

This from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

 

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI WATCH

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII EFFECTIVE AT 0257 AM HST.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

   ORIGIN TIME - 0248 AM HST 31 AUG 2012
   COORDINATES - 10.9 NORTH  127.1 EAST
   LOCATION    - PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
   MAGNITUDE   - 7.9  MOMENT

EVALUATION

BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A TSUNAMI MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY THIS EARTHQUAKE THAT COULD BE DESTRUCTIVE ON COASTAL AREAS EVEN
FAR FROM THE EPICENTER. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.

IF TSUNAMI WAVES IMPACT HAWAII THE ESTIMATED EARLIEST ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS

                     1228 PM HST FRI 31 AUG 2012

MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT

 

 

Meanwhile, Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a Tsunami advisory for what may be a .5 meter tidal wave.

**********About Tsunami Forecast************
<Tsunami Advisory>
Tsunami height is expected to be about 0.5 meters. Attention advised.

******* Earthquake Information ********

Occurred at 
21:48 JST 31 Aug 2012

Region name 
PHILIPPINES AND ITS VICINITY

Latitude 10.9N

Longitude 127.1E

Depth Unknown

Magnitude  7.9

 

UPDATE:  No Destructive Tsunami Expected Along West Coast

 

To: U.S. West Coast, Alaska, and British Columbia coastal regions

From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #2 issued 08/31/2012 at 6:36AM PDT

This message is updated with REVISED MAGNITUDE OF 7.6.

A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

A damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts although some of these areas may experience non-damaging sea level changes.

At 5:48 AM Pacific Daylight Time on August 31, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.6 occurred in the Philippine Islands region . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages for information on the event.

This will be the final statement issued for this event by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless conditions warrant. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map. (NOTE: Travel time maps indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.)

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Philippines: 7.9 Quake & Tsunami Warning

****  UPDATE:  USGS lowers Magnitude to 7.6 ****

**** UPDATE: Tsunami Watch For Hawaii Cancelled ****

USGS Earthquake Map

 

# 6527

 

Preliminary reports indicate that a 7.9 magnitude quake has struck east of the Philippines, and a Tsunami warning and watch have been issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

 

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001

PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 1255Z 31 AUG 2012

THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...
WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

... A TSUNAMI WARNING AND WATCH ARE IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR   INDONESIA / PHILIPPINES / BELAU / YAP / TAIWAN / JAPAN / GUAM / N. MARIANAS / PAPUA NEW GUINEA

A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR   CHUUK / MARCUS IS. / KOSRAE / POHNPEI / MARSHALL IS. /
WAKE IS. / SOLOMON IS. / RUSSIA / NAURU

FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN... IT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.

 

 

At this time, we’ve no reports of damage, and we do not know whether a tsunami was generated, only that one is possible.

 

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The 2012 Great SouthEast ShakeOut

 

 

 

# 6490

While it may come as a bit of a surprise to many southerners, parts of the Southeastern United States have a history of strong and damaging earthquakes.

 

Just last year, sections of Virginia and Washington, D.C. were rattled by a `surprise’  5.8 earthquake centered in Mineral, Virginia (see USGS Statement On The Virginia Earthquake).

 

But by far, the most destructive `Dixie quake’ was the (Est. 7.3-7.6 magnitude) earthquake that struck and devastated much of Charleston, South Carolina in 1886. Shaking was felt as far north as Boston, south to Cuba, and west as far as New Orleans.

 

An earthquake of that size today, in the same area, it is estimated would produce:

• 45,000 injuries
•    9,000 hospitalizations
•      900  fatalities
• 200,000 displaced or homeless persons
• 20 billion dollars in Damage

 

While far less powerful, 26 years later another quake struck the Palmetto state in Union County.

 

And in recent years, geologists in South Caroloina have found evidence of at least 5 large earthquakes over the past 5,000 years (Amick and Gelinas, 1991). Concerns run high enough over seeing a repeat performance that the state has produced their own 5-page Earthquake guide.

 

 

Below you’ll find an earthquake hazard map from FEMA’s website covering the central and eastern United States. The colors in the map reflect “seismic design categories” (SDCs), which anticipates the likely intensity of seismic shaking in a region.

 

As you can see, the New Madrid region in Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas is considered at highest risk, but the coastal region of South Carolina, and areas of North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia are at seismic risk as well.

 

Starting in California, in 2008, the Great California Shakeout drill was designed to involve as many citizens as possible in a yearly earthquake drill. 

 

Over the next few years, Oregon, British Columbia, Nevada, Utah, Guam, and the Central States joined in with their own Shakeout Drills:

 

The Great Utah ShakeOut

The Great Central U.S. Shakeout:2012

A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Goin' On

 

This year, there are 14 Shakeouts scheduled across the United States, and around the world.

 

One of the newest is for the Southeastern United States, where residents of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia are invited to take part.

 

Already nearly 200,000 people have signed up.  If you live in any of these Shakeout areas, I would urge you to take part.  

 

From the Great SouthEast Shakeout Page:

 

You are invited to join thousands of people who will Drop, Cover, and Hold On on October 18th at 10:18 a.m.* in the 2012 Great SouthEast ShakeOut!

More than 12.5 million people were registered to participate in ShakeOut drills worldwide in 2011. Participating is a great way for your family or organization to become better prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes.

 

Start here to be included in the 2012 ShakeOut!

 

 

To hear the 60 second drill, which will be simulcast over radio stations, and played in classrooms and offices on October 18th at 10:18am, click this link:

English Narration and Sound Effects (57 seconds, 1.3 MB MP3)

 

You’ll find a wealth of earthquake preparedness and safety information on the Shakeout.org site. 

For more on earthquake, and `All Threats’ preparedness, I would invite you visit the following preparedness sites.

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

 

And for my blog on general earthquake preparedness, see NPM11: Are You Earthquake Prepared?

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LA: A Not So Gentle Reminder

ABC LA Quake Cam 13:20 EST  8/8/12

# 6480

 

On the heels of yesterday’s 4.4 magnitude temblor centered in Yorba Linda, California we’ve two more moderately-sized jolts this morning in roughly the same area, coming in first - at 4.5 magnitude – quickly followed by another at 3.4 magnitude.

There no reports as yet of damage or injuries, and at these magnitudes, little is expected.  But these temblors serve as a not-so-gentle reminder that Los Angeles is at risk of much stronger quakes.

 

 

With National Preparedness Month less than 3 weeks away, this seems an opportune time to remind folks that seismic risks extend far beyond California. While large earthquakes in the eastern half of the country are comparatively rare, they do happen.

 

As you can see by the map below, most of the United States is seismically active – with Alaska, Hawaii, the west coast, and the Midwest seeing the most – and strongest, quakes.

USGS map

 

Last year, in Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake, we looked at a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that endeavored to gauge the crippling impact that a highly feasible (and long overdue) 7.8 magnitude Southern California earthquake would have on jobs and local businesses.

 

Download PDF file

A quake of this magnitude, they estimate, could affect  430,000 businesses and 4.5 million workers and deliver a devastating – and prolonged – blow to the local economy.

 

While huge death tolls are considered unlikely in this scenario, the untimely demise of thousands of unprepared businesses is all but assured.

 

This latest seismic activity makes this a pretty good time to remind my readers about the study from 2010 (see Revised Risk Of `The Big One’ Along San Andreas Fault) that suggests that Southern California may be more overdue for another major quake than previously thought.

 

Since we can’t prevent earthquakes, or predict them, the only recourse is to prepare for them . . .  as individuals, businesses, and communities.

 

 

For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.

 

The Great California Shakeout website invites you to participate once again in this year’s state-wide earthquake drill on October 18th at 10:18 a.m. For regions outside of California, you can check here for Shakeout Drills in your area.

 

And lastly, to become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with these types of disasters: I would invite you visit the following preparedness sites.

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

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