On Feb. 28, 2001, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook western Washington causing billions of dollars in damage. SEATTLE — Sunday, Feb. 28 marks the 20th anniversary of the largest earthquake to shake the Pacific Northwest since the 1960s.
When was the last major earthquake in Washington state?
The most recent major earthquake, the Nisqually quake, was a magnitude 6.8 quake and struck near Olympia, WA on February 28, 2001.
Where is the fault line in Washington State?
The Seattle Fault is a zone of multiple shallow east-west thrust faults that cross the Puget Sound Lowland and through Seattle (in the U.S. state of Washington) in the vicinity of Interstate Highway 90.
Where in Washington are earthquakes most likely to occur?
The Cascadia subduction zone off the Washington and Oregon coast is capable of some of the largest earthquakes in the world.
How often are there earthquakes in Washington state?
More than 1,000 earthquakes occur in the state each year. A dozen or more are strong enough that people feel ground shaking. Occasionally, earthquakes cause damage. The state experienced at least 20 damaging events in the last 125 years.
What is the most dangerous fault line in the world?
The New Madrid Seismic Zone (/ˈmædrɪd/), sometimes called the New Madrid Fault Line, is a major seismic zone and a prolific source of intraplate earthquakes (earthquakes within a tectonic plate) in the Southern and Midwestern United States, stretching to the southwest from New Madrid, Missouri.
Is a 10.0 earthquake possible?
No, earthquakes of magnitude 10 or larger cannot happen. … No fault long enough to generate a magnitude 10 earthquake is known to exist, and if it did, it would extend around most of the planet.
Would Seattle be hit by a tsunami?
Tsunami waves could reach Seattle in 2 hours and 20 minutes after an earthquake.
Has there ever been a tsunami in Washington state?
In 1964, a tsunami trig- gered by a magnitude 9.2 earthquake in Alaska reached northwest Washington within 3.5 hours, and caused flooding and damage in some locations. … All marine shorelines in Washington State are vulnerable to tsunamis.
Which type of fault is the most dangerous?
Reverse faults, particularly those along convergent plate boundaries are associated with the most powerful earthquakes, megathrust earthquakes, including almost all of those of magnitude 8 or more. Strike-slip faults, particularly continental transforms, can produce major earthquakes up to about magnitude 8.
What 3 steps should you take during an earthquake?
Prepare
- Step 1: Secure Your Space. Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.
- Step 2: Plan to be Safe. Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
- Step 3: Organize Disaster Supplies. …
- Step 4: Minimize Financial Hardship.
What state has the most earthquakes?
California and Alaska have the most earthquakes in the U.S.
How many earthquakes have happened in Washington?
Oregon and Washington
More than 1,000 earthquakes occur in Washington each year. A dozen or more are strong enough that people feel ground shaking; occasionally, earthquakes cause damage. While most earthquakes occur in western Washington, some damaging events have occurred east of the Cascades, such as the M6.
How long does a 9.0 earthquake last for?
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake can last for five minutes or longer, and the amount of energy released is about 1,000 times greater than that of a 7.0. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the most powerful quakes could leave few if any masonry buildings standing, destroy bridges and toss objects into the air.
What is the longest earthquake?
The world’s largest earthquake with an instrumentally documented magnitude occurred on May 22, 1960 near Valdivia, in southern Chile. It was assigned a magnitude of 9.5 by the United States Geological Survey. It is referred to as the “Great Chilean Earthquake” and the “1960 Valdivia Earthquake.”
Does Washington state get tornadoes?
Washington state averages 2.5 tornadoes annually, but only 0.1 tornadoes in the month of December; the majority of these are rated EF0.