Comments for Chronicling the Nisqually Earthquake and Other Northwest Quakes

Comment on The April 28, 1965 Earthquake by Austin Elliott

Austin Elliott — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:06:27 +0000

Love the car ad.

Comment on The Kingdome Implosion “Earthquake” on March 26, 2000 by Dan Plesse

Dan Plesse — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 04:15:50 +0000

Kingdome detectors were set right next to Seattle Kingdome while 9/11 seismometers detectors where set 40 miles away. Columbia University says the .09 earthquake was caused by a plane which never shows any telescoping or slowing i.e resistance. You can have it both ways. either a giant crash is filmed and people report the ground shaking together or the ground shook before the plane crash and no one has any idea why the crash was not photographed or video trapped. check this link out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZSPQo7nJ4E

Comment on The 1964 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunami That Hit the West Coast by johana rodriguez

johana rodriguez — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:38:07 +0000

Omg poor of them

Comment on In a Tacoma Safeway for the Nisqually by F

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 03:39:36 +0000

In a Tacoma Safeway for the Nisqually
Can’t you see that it’s an earthquake?

Oh, won’t you come with me
And take my hand
Oh, won’t you come with me
And and try to walk on this land

Er. Apologies.

The sheer number of earthquakes you have experienced is fascinating in itself, but I really enjoyed the Safeway story. In Ohio, I’ve only felt several small quakes, but even as a young child I had immediately identified them as such. (Geology, IMHO, had many great communicators – even if only a few people really listened.)

The not-the-brightest person in my only story was a high school physics class. Earthquake had a low thrum, and just vibrated a lot of glass and instruments in cabinets. Everyone is startled, and the voice of the class (in this case, one Tim) asks what it is. “Earthquake”, I say. “No way, we don’t hget earthquakes.” “Then it’s the subway.” “(guffaw) There’s no subway!” “Then it’s an earthquake”.

Meanwhile, physics teacher sits with a smirk on her face.

Comment on 1949 Earthquake Stories From Harvey Rosen and Four Others by Sylvia Malloy

Sylvia Malloy — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:22:29 +0000

I was in Denny Hall, U. W. Campus taking an exam. The shaking started and the windows that were chained fell open and made a terrible noise. A big boy blocked the door and told us to follow Drill orders and get under our desks. I dove under his arms and ran out of the building against all rules. Returning was embarrassing but I suspect understood since I was not berated. I was scared to death. My parents owned a Drug Store at 5th and Virginia, drugs fell off the shelves. At home the piano was in the middle of the Living room floor, cracks in the plaster, dishes broken.

Comment on Living With Earthquakes on the West Coast by Austin

Austin — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:34:34 +0000

This is a very good point. The Pac NW would be no less devastated by a strong, shallow crustal event above the subducting slab than California would by its strong shallow earthquakes, and given more relaxed building standards outside of CA, WA and OR would likely suffer even greater devastation. As this very Nisqually quake demonstrated, a more direct blow is possible and can wreck unreinforced (and reinforced) masonry buildings, which Seattle’s downtown is full of. As you point out, however, these quakes are far less frequent than their CA counterparts, and that puts Californians at a far greater probabilistic risk. A given strong place will damage any city it strikes, but they’re far more likely to strike CA.

I might add that a quibble I have with my own response is that the tsunami from a subduction zone quake could be utterly devastating across the Pacific, leading to a pretty high death tolls in numerous countries, and in many coastal hamlets along the Washington, Oregon, California, and British Columbia coasts.

Comment on Living With Earthquakes on the West Coast by Matt

Matt — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:48:17 +0000

An article quibble is that the earthquake threat in Oregon and Washington is largely equated with subduction zone events. It’s more accurate to say that while California’s earthquake threat is more accute, subject to crustal quakes right in urban centers, Oregon (to a lesser extent) and Washington (to a greater extent) are subject to the exact same type of shallow quake. While less frequent than their California cousins, those crustal events have the potential to be just as lethal. A 6.0+ event on the Seattle fault (not even a repeat of the 900 AD event), Tacoma fault, or several other newly discovered faults would make Northridge look like a walk in the park. Granted, these are less frequent than in California (we have not had a major one since settlers arrived), but should definitely be factored in when we’re talking regional earthquake risks.

Comment on The New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 by Legendary phenomena in the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes « The Trembling Earth

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:38:40 +0000

[...] of people have been and will be reporting on these earthquakes as we celebrate their bicentennial, including [...]

Comment on Charting the Frequency of Sizable (4.0+) Earthquakes in the Northwest, 1970 to 2010 by I Thought Fischer Sounded Fishy : The Other McCain

I Thought Fischer Sounded Fishy : The Other McCain — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:17:05 +0000

[...] similar trick, and connect the character of Fischer’s exegesis with a random graph of earthquake data I found here. What sort of person performs such tortuous feats of mental gymnastics with scripture? Fischer, [...]

Comment on 1949 Earthquake Stories From Harvey Rosen and Four Others by Loriane Frewing

Loriane Frewing — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:03:45 +0000

I was born during this earthquake. My family lived in Langley, BC Canada but the quake was felt there too. As I was being born, the nurses had quite a surprise but helped mom get the job done anyway. I’ve read about Marvin and his bravery. I always felt a connection with him since he was just leaving this world as I was coming in. I never met him, but I will always be thrilled by the story of his act of courage to save a classmate.