Researchers say a massive earthquake and tsunami could soon strike the Northwest US coast, killing more than 10,000 people, flooding entire towns, and causing economic damages totaling $32 billion. The clock is ticking on the next big earthquake in the Pacific Northwest, and experts fear it will be a monster.
An alarming report published by the Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission warns about the dire effects of the quake and claims that it is imminent and could strike anytime. The report, which was compiled by a group of more than 150 volunteer experts, was requested by the Oregon legislature in order to adequately prepare for the looming disaster.
The last high magnitude earthquake in the region occurred in the year 1700 in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The quake had a magnitude between 8.7 and 9.2, and geologists in 2010 predicted that there is a 37 percent change of another such quake occurring within 50 years. The new report claims that there is a 100 percent chance of a monster earthquake occurring in the region – but scientists don’t know when.
"This earthquake will hit us again. It's just a matter of how soon." “We’re well within the window for it to happen again.” With no time frame for the predicted earthquake, Oregonians need to be constantly prepared for one. The report warns of death and devastation ranging from British Columbia to Northern California, the worst of which will strike Oregon.
An earthquake, together with the resulting tsunami, could leave Oregonians without water, power, heat, telephone services, and in some cases, gasoline. After a deadly earthquake and tsunami hit Japan in 2011, lawmakers grew concerned that a similar disaster could occur in the US. The report says that geographically, Oregon and Japan are almost identical – but that Japan was far more prepared than Oregon would be if it faced the same fate.
The most recent report is not the first warning of an imminent high-magnitude quake. In 2012, researchers at Oregon State University published a study concluding that there is a 40 percent chance of a major earthquake in the Coos Bay, Ore., region during the next 50 years. The Northwest US is long overdue for an earthquake, and it’s only a matter of time before the coast once again witnesses a quake with a magnitude higher than 8.0.
“By the year 2060, if we have not had an earthquake, we will have exceeded 85 percent of all the known intervals of earthquake recurrence in 10,000 years. The interval between earthquakes ranges from a few decades to thousands of years. But we already have exceeded about three-fourths of them.”
of thinking when 20% of the population adopts the idea.**
Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson
LARGEST QUAKES -
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (update every 30 minutes)
This morning -
5.0 KEP. TANIMBAR REGION, INDONESIA
Yesterday -
3/17/13 -
5.0 OFFSHORE ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
VOLCANOES -
Volcano Webcams
Mount Etna in another spectacular eruption - Sicily's Mount Etna has been putting on quite a show for spectators who dare get close enough to see. Europe's only active volcano sent streams of red hot lava and ash shooting into the sky this weekend.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical Cyclone Tim was located approximately 220 nm southeast Willis Island, Australia. The final warning has been issued on this system.
SPACE WEATHER -
STRONG CME IMPACT - As predicted, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field at 0600 UT on March 17th. The impact lifted the solar wind speed from 300 km/s to 700 km/s and sparked a moderately strong (Kp=6) geomagnetic storm. Northern Lights spilled across the Canadian border into the United States as far south as Colorado. In the contiguous United States, auroras appeared above New York, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Colorado, Michigan and the Dakotas. The show's not over. Geomagnetic storming is underway as Earth passes thrugh the wake of the CME. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras. Aurora photo gallery
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS
