Earthquakes question? (Port Angeles, Sequim, Orting: houses, school, tornadoes)

[mrslovettstailor]

I have a question involving earthquakes in Western Washington, particuarly the Olympic Pen. And yes, I know all about the threat of "the big one" and such and have taken that into consideration when deciding to relocate to the PA/Sequim area this spring, but what I was wondering is how often are these little quakes felt there? I had asked people about this while out there for 3 weeks this past summer and everyone said it really wasn't an issue and we didn't experience any of these during our visit, so I wasn't too worried about it. I really am not "worried" per se, as you have a better chance dying in a car crash or other disaster, but we are from the Midwest and I worry about the children being scared on a regular basis when they feel the group moving . I have looked stuff up on the scientific sites but I don't want to know how often they actually take place as I know alot of these are so deep they are only felt by instrumentation, I just want an opinion from those in the area about how often they feel these and how strong they are. Thank in advance for the help

[Hemlock140]

My parents live on Blue Mountain Rd between Sequim and Port Angeles, have been there 11 years now and have never felt an earthquake. They would know if if there was one, since they spend their first 60+ years in the SF Bay Area. I find this whole fear of earthquakes in WA to be strange, we have so few.

I spent my first 40 years in CA. In 1987 I was working 2 blocks from where the freeway fell in the Loma Prieta quake in 1987, and I moved up here!

[mrslovettstailor]

Thanks That was kinda what i was thinking because people said you don't feel them but I know there was a quake in BC. yesterday and the aftershocks were felt in the San Juans slightly, so I just thought I would ask. Its wierd because if you look up the, I forget which site but it tracks quakes, it shows them very frequently so it must be they are deep/slight enough no one feels them.

[Seacove]

I have a phone app called QuakeWatch. What you learn is little quakes are happening as often as every four or five minutes all over the world. Lots of earthquakes in Alaska and Hawaii, California, Nevada, and yes there was one yesterday around the San Juans, a 3.2. I bet no one felt it. It looks like we had three in Washington State yesterday, a 1.3, 1.6 and a 1.3. There were two in Oregon and two off the coast of Oregon that were bigger, a 5.2 and 4.7. I'm not saying you will never feel them but the last one I felt was many years ago.

[Dendrite]

Not an unreasonable question from the OP, particularly if one has ever been in the seismography lab at UW.

Probably more than you want to know (unless you're really in to geology):

Washington State Earthquake Hazards (http://www.pnsn.org/INFO_GENERAL/NQT/welcome.html - broken link)

Figures 12 & 13 there will delineate Puget Sound earthquake epicenter data in relationship to our offshore tectonic plates and ridges (data through 1988).

Honestly, I think if one is going to consider potential geologic catastrophes for this region, that they should probably worry about Mt. Rainier rumbling back to life (and erasing places such as Orting, WA) rather than fretting over earthquakes.

[sean98125]

You are much more likely to be killed or injured by one of the retired drivers in the area than you are to be hurt in an earthquake.

[nwcountrygal]

In 30 years of living in WA. Mostly base of Mt Rainier. I was thrown out of bed once.. on epi center I belive name. Or more like rolled out. The Big one early 2000's again on epi center. The ground moved like a boat making waves in circles. Trucks bouncing off the ground. Lost 2 ft out of hot tub of water. Was crazy. Luckily the house had no foundation as old house just rolled.

Would I even think to worry about it. Not even. That is the last of your worries. Mt Rainier is gonna go sometime and it will destroy allot of Puget Sound. So is Mauna Loa over here in Hawaii will take Kona. Kalapana has lava taking houses today.

Worry about your life today and not "What if" ideas. I would be more afraid of tornadoes in Midwest than earthquakes. (As far as Alaska and Hawaii sometimes they are good alarm clocks!) Felt many more in AK HI than 30 years of WA.

[mrslovettstailor]

Thanks all. I am not really worried about the threat of an earthquake or scared for my safety. it is just not something we are used to and I will have aclimate the kids to. Doesn't bother me, not sure how they will take the earth moving lol that is why I wondered I did look up information about Mt. Ranier just because people brought it up, and there seems to be alot of information stating that if it does errupt it would most likely be contained to the national park because it is so large. Of course you never know.... but either way..... doesn't do any good to worry about something that "MIGHT" happen. Easier to die in car crash, or even falling down the stairs. Thanks for all the information all it really helped

[nwcountrygal]

That is far from true if Mt Rainier goes off. I did many saftey claess for Timber company in the 90's. The Electron glacier is the area of erupt more than likely. In past it was fast and big. The eruption of ash as differnt valcano than Hawaii of Lava will make a huge deal. But the biggest issues are the mud flows. They have flowed to the ocean. They will distroy the Orting area when it does happen and Puget Sound will be massive affected.

Again put head in sand this year or 100 years away. Nothing you can do about it if you live in the area. I know I rather be in lava from Hawaii than when Mt Rainier explodes. Shrugg shoulders though. It is what it is and you just deal.

[AlohaHuey]

Originally Posted by mrslovettstailor

I have a question involving earthquakes in Western Washington, particuarly the Olympic Pen. And yes, I know all about the threat of "the big one" and such and have taken that into consideration when deciding to relocate to the PA/Sequim area this spring, but what I was wondering is how often are these little quakes felt there? I had asked people about this while out there for 3 weeks this past summer and everyone said it really wasn't an issue and we didn't experience any of these during our visit, so I wasn't too worried about it. I really am not "worried" per se, as you have a better chance dying in a car crash or other disaster, but we are from the Midwest and I worry about the children being scared on a regular basis when they feel the group moving . I have looked stuff up on the scientific sites but I don't want to know how often they actually take place as I know alot of these are so deep they are only felt by instrumentation, I just want an opinion from those in the area about how often they feel these and how strong they are. Thank in advance for the help

Tsunamis are a bigger concern in PA.

Kids are generally taught to get under their desks at school; they have earthquake drills and/or evacuation drills, depending on the susceptability of the area to a particular disaster. The Midwest has earthquakes too...I remember one around 1986 that shook the house.

Volcanoes give plenty of warning before they erupt.

Nearly all earthquakes in the Pac NW are too small to be felt.