Courtesy of Washington Military Department

Courtesy of Washington Military Department

Washington gets mobile earthquake alerts

Washington state will have its own earthquake early warning system on May 4 when ShakeAlert goes live, which could give residents precious seconds to prepare before the ground begins to shake.

The system is operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, and can quickly alert people of an impending earthquake. The alert system quickly detects earthquakes, including an estimate of the earthquake’s size and location, and delivers alerts to mobile phones. The warning system will mean Washington has joined both Oregon and California in having a warning system.

Android phone users can receive notifications through both the Wireless Emergency Alerts and through their phone’s built-in software, which doesn’t require a specific app. However, the alerts will only be received if the device’s location setting is on, and Earthquake Alerts is enabled in their location settings, according to the Washington Military Department.

The majority of injuries in earthquakes are caused by people falling down or being hit by falling objects. While the alerts don’t provide much time to take cover — it can be anywhere from seconds to tens of seconds, depending on where the earthquake strikes — it could be enough to allow people to find shelter. The alert can also give trains and planes on the runway enough time to begin slowing, and prevent cars from entering bridges and tunnels.

“Taking such actions before shaking starts can reduce damage and casualties during an earthquake,” according to the ShakeAlert website. “It can also prevent cascading failures in the aftermath of an event.”

Earthquakes are common on the West Coast. The Snoqualmie Valley experienced a magnitude 2.5 earthquake as recently as April 28. While small shakes like this can go unnoticed, and are unlikely to cause damage, large shakes have happened in recent memory — and larger ones are expected.

In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake struck Washington state. The 6.8 magnitude quake caused between $1 billion and $4 billion in damages. Then there’s The Big One, the name given to an expected 9.0 magnitude earthquake. While it’s unknown when this earthquake will strike, it’s expected to cause widespread damage and a tsunami that will strike Washington’s coastline. According to a 2018 Seattle Weekly article, experts predicted a 14% chance that a large Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake would occur within the next 50 years.

The last known subduction earthquake was in 1700, and sent massive tsunamis ripping across the Pacific Ocean, striking the Pacific Northwest and Japan. Geological records indicate that these earthquakes strike roughly every 400 to 600 years.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Stolen merchandise is piled up at the Safeway Distribution Center, the result of the Auburn Police Department’s multi-jurisdictional investigation into a pawn shop scheme. (Photo courtesy of Auburn Police Department)
Police recover millions of dollars in stolen property after pawn shop scheme

Pictures and videos from inside the Safeway Distribution Center show boxes and… Continue reading

t
Kent Police Blotter: Feb. 28 to March 12

Incidents include multiple store robberies, shootings

File photo
Kent Police investigate possible hit-and-run that left one man dead

A 33-year-old Kent man was found in a driveway.

File photo 
Washington State Capitol Building in Olympia.
Push to lower legal limit to 0.05 for driving drunk falls short

OLYMPIA — An effort to lower the legal limit for driving drunk… Continue reading

File Photo.
Kent Police give update on Feb. 28 traffic fatality

Police clarify that the situation suspected to be a hit-and-run was not so.

Kent’s Independent Salary Commission meeting on March 13. (Cameron Sheppard/Sound Publishing)
Commission approves pay raises for Kent mayor and city council

The City of Kent’s Independent Salary Commission recently approved a pay raise… Continue reading

t
BJ Cummings to talk about the Duwamish River’s human and natural history

Greater Kent Historical Society one of sponsors of April 6 event at Kent Commons

t
Half Lion Public House finds success at Riverbend in Kent

Three previous restaurants at city-owned golf complex went out of business

t
City of Kent-owned Riverbend Golf Complex turns a profit in 2022

Sale of par 3 course helped pay for major upgrades at driving range and eliminated loan debt

Most Read