The Cascadia Region, from northwestern California to British Columbia, has been struck by earthquakes and related hazards in the past. Such events are likely to happen again. The following FAQ will introduce you to earthquakes and provide links to more information about these events and how to plan for them.
What are earthquakes? An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault, which is a thin zone of weakness between two larger blocks of rock. As stress builds on a fault (usually due to the relative motions between tectonic plates), the fault will remain stuck or motionless until the stress level exceeds the strength of the fault. Stresses may build for hundreds or thousands of years. Once the stress level exceeds the strength of the fault, the fault slips suddenly and releases energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Learn more about where earthquakes come from.
What should I do when I feel ground shaking? Drop, cover and hold. If you are inside when you feel the ground shake, drop down to the floor. Take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture or seek cover against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid danger spots near windows, hanging objects, mirrors, or tall furniture. Hold the position until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move. If you are outside, get into the open, away from buildings, power lines and trees. Be alert for falling rock and other debris that could be loosened by the earthquake. If you are on or near the coast, move far inland to higher ground after ground shaking stops.
What are earthquake-related hazards? An earthquake often triggers events we call hazards, including ground shaking, landslides, liquefaction (when soil liquefies during shaking) and tsunamis.
Who is at risk? Cascadia has a history of seismic activity. The extent of your risk depends on where you live in this region, but all residents should be prepared for a damaging quake in their lifetimes.
Where is Cascadia? The Cascadia region stretches from Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the north to Cape Mendocino, California in the south. Our member states and provinces are British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington.
What is a fault? A fault is a fracture in the Earth where rocks on one side may move relative to those on the other side. It can be a few centimeters to hundreds of kilometers in length. An earthquake occurs when the rock on one side of the fault slips.
What happens after an earthquake? Earthquakes cause a variety of earthquake hazards, including ground shaking, landslides, liquefaction (when soil liquefies during shaking) and tsunami. Learn more about earthquake hazards.
When will the next earthquake occur? If you live in Cascadia, you will probably experience a serious, damaging earthquake in your lifetime. For example, scientists estimate that within 50 years, there is an 84% chance of a magnitude 6.5 (M6.5) or higher earthquake in the Puget Sound region. The odds are less for Oregon and northern California, but still significant. Learn more about the different kinds of earthquakes.
Can earthquakes be prevented? No, but we can lessen the damage they cause. With proper planning, you can avoid injury and damage to your home or business when an earthquake strikes. To learn more about protecting your home or business from an earthquake, please see What You Can Do.
How are earthquakes measured? The rapid slip of one block of rock over another in an earthquake releases energy in the form of seismic waves. Seismic waves are detected and measured using networks of seismographs. Seismographs are devices installed in the ground throughout the world that can sense the motion of the ground beneath them. A recording of the ground motion sensed by a seismograph is called a seismogram (the squiggly lines that almost everyone has seen).
What is magnitude? The size of an earthquake typically is measured using a metric called magnitude. Magnitude measures the energy radiated in the seismic waves (bigger earthquakes send out bigger waves). For example, the Northridge, Calif. earthquake (1994) was a magnitude 6.7 earthquake. On the magnitude scale, each whole number increase represents an earthquake ten times greater in size. A M5 event will rattle people but probably create mostly minor damage. A M7, which would be 100 times greater than a M5 event, could cause deaths and devastate cities. Earthquakes are usually felt if they are at least magnitude 3 to 4. Learn more about how magnitude feels during an earthquake using the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
What are tsunami and why do they matter to Cascadia? Most earthquakes in the Cascadia region will not result in tsunamis because they do not uplift the seafloor. However, a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake would generate a tsunami, which is actually a series of waves (not a ‘tidal wave’). In some cases, waves may be up to 33 feet (10 meters) high, flooding everything in their path. Tsunamis can injure or kill many people and cause significant damage to buildings and other structures. People can escape tsunamis by moving to higher ground and far inland after ground shaking stops.
Will I always see the fault where an earthquake occurred or could occur? Not all earthquakes result in faulting that cuts the Earth’s surface. Some faults are many tens or hundreds of kilometers beneath the surface. Earthquakes almost always occur on pre-existing faults.
How can I reduce the impact of an earthquake? For help getting started and other online resources, please see What You Can Do.
Where can I learn more about earthquakes and related hazards? Please see More Earthquake Resources and Links.
Who responds during and after an earthquake?
- The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado is responsible for rapidly determining the location and size of all destructive earthquakes worldwide and disseminating information to the general public.
- The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, headquartered at the University of Washington in Seattle, provides accurate and fast information about earthquakes and ground motions in Oregon and Washington to scientists, engineers, planners, and the public. Natural Resources Canada provides similar information in Canada.
- State agencies including the Oregon Department of Geology and Minerals and the Washington Department of Natural Resources evaluate and explain the impact of earthquakes and related hazards on the land.
- State, county and city emergency management divisions plan, prepare and provide for the prevention, mitigation and management of emergencies or disasters that present a threat to lives and property. Regional partners in emergency management include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Management British Columbia, Washington Emergency Management Division, Oregon Emergency Management and California Emergency Management Agency.
- The National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) is the federal government’s coordinated long-term nationwide program to reduce risks to life and property in the United States that result from earthquakes.
- Local chapters of the Red Cross provide emergency services to people injured or displaced by earthquakes.
- State transportation agencies respond to disruptions to roads, highways and bridges.
- Regional utility providers respond to disruptions to lifelines such as power and gas supply lines.
- Hospitals serve people injured during and after an earthquake.