The Apocalypse is Coming! 9 Things You Need to Know About a Pacific NW Earthquake
1. It Can Happen Any Time
The Cascadia Subduction Zone, lying along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is an approximately 700 mile long fault off the shore of the Western coast of the United States, running from British Columbia to Northern California. Based off looking at rocks and more rocks and how one rock looks different from other rocks, scientists were able to identify a history of Cascadia earthquakes and determine their size. Look these people are way smarter than me. But they found that, on average, the evidence shows that over 3,500 years a 9.0+ earthquake occurring 500 years or so (the actual increments are 200 years to 1000 years apart — math and stuff, you know). The last known 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in 1700, over 300 years ago. Some think the apocalypse is overdue, others think it will happen anytime, and a few think “eh, that’s for future me to worry about”. Nice job, a few. Get it together. Simple odds show a one in ten chance (10%) of a 9.0 earthquake occurring in the next 50 years.
2. It’s the Worst Type of Earthquake
Subduction zone earthquakes cause the world’s largest quakes. These large earthquakes are called megathrust earthquakes or mega-quakes or super-shakers or ultra-undulators (ok, I made the last two up. But they could catch on). These great megathrust earthquakes are responsible for 8.0 to 9.0 and above magnitude earthquakes, such as those in seen in Alaska, Japan, and Chile. Not sure what the difference in magnitudes are? The 2001 Nisqually earthquake in Washington (and felt in Oregon, Canada, and Idaho) caused 400 injuries, one death (associated with a heart attack), and $2 billion in damage. A 9.0 earthquake is 1,995 times stronger (more energy released) than that one.
3. The Northwest is Ill-Prepared
Since it has only been a few decades since the discovery of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, most of the building codes and transportation infrastructure are without seismic design, especially in highly concentrated urban areas like Seattle and Portland. Oregon didn’t even have seismic codes until 1974 and few in the PNW had a 9.0 earthquake appropriate code until 1994! Half of Oregon’s bridges are seismically vulnerable (that means it gun’ break in a quake) and only 286 of Washington’s have been retrofitted, with 478 to go with questionable funding. An exercise scenario estimated Oregon and Washington suffering tens of thousands of injuries and thousands of fatalities and, apparently, we are at least 50 years away from being prepared.
4. The Coast is Toast
Aside from experiencing the greatest shaking intensities (due to no fault of their own being closer to the subduction zone — get it??), they will have to deal with a tsunami. Much like what we saw with the earthquake in Japan, a tsunami is going to occur along the Western coastline. Depending on location, the height of the tsunami could be as high as 30–40 feet and reach land within 15–30 minutes after a super-shaker. Japan’s tsunami had as many as 5 large waves in some areas with the last being two hours after the quake. As many as 13,500 lives could be lost as a result of just a tsunami alone.
5. Help Could Be A Long Way Off
A disaster of this magnitude (man I’m on a roll) would have first responders overwhelmed. Naturally, responders will want to check on their families first to ensure their safety… if they can get to them… responders won’t be able to reach many areas due to destroyed roads, collapsed buildings, and general mayhem and chaos. They certainly won’t be able to deliver emergency supplies like food, water, or fuel by ground until repairs are done on the infrastructure, which could take months. Fire and police stations also face the risk of collapse during an ultra-undulator and ambulances will find it near impossible to reach victims in the initial aftermath.
6. Post-Earthquake Events Can Be Just as Disastrous
An earthquake isn’t the only thing we need to worry about. Not only is there a tsunami to worry about, but the PNW will face liquefaction (it’s like the earth took a stool softener — the ground and soil ends up behaving like a liquid), aftershocks (even up to months later), and landslides (bring you dowwwwnnnn) in the wake of the disaster. Not to mention the threats of weakened structures and collapsing buildings, uncontained hazardous materials, and looting and rioting.
7. You Won’t Be Able to Reach Your Loved Ones
You may be incapable of reaching your family or friends. If any communications towers stay intact and powered, it will likely be encumbered with people trying to call their own families or friends or 911. Ever tried calling or texting someone in a packed football stadium? These disruptions in communication will affect everyone, including responders. Up to 10 million people may lose communication.
Additionally, as stated earlier, roads and highway infrastructures will be heavily damaged and destroyed and littered with broken or abandoned vehicles and bodies. Making your way back to your loved ones may prove difficult. It may be best to start building a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic transportation method.
8. Resources Will Be Strained
Water and food will become scarce. Hospitals will be low on supplies, personnel, and energy, running on backup generators. Energy and fuel will be limited, if you can gain access to it at all. 90% of Oregon’s refined petroleum products come from Washington with a large portion of overall energy being funneled through Oregon’s critical energy infrastructure hub. People will be rioting and looting, trying to get their own share of resources and supplies. The Pacific Northwest will become a post-apocalyptic wasteland of nomads searching the rubble for their loot of free-trade, organic water and free-range food cart fusion burritos.
9. You Can Prepare Yourself
As has been clear (and we’ve discussed before in our HELP is not coming article), you are likely going to be left on your own to survive. At least for awhile. Your best bet is to prepare as if you were preparing for a zombie apocalypse. Some organizations recommend disaster preparedness up to 3 days, but in the event of a megathrust earthquake, you will need at least one week, more preferably two or more weeks. Get to know your neighbors, make a plan with your family, have an evacuation plan, stock up on resources. The best time to be ready is now. The super-shaker is coming.
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