Preparedness Makes a Difference
As the world watches the tragic disaster unfolding in Japan today, the numb anticipation of its terrible toll grows. Most of us can do little more than express our empathy and sorrow for the people of Japan.
This event ought to heighten our awareness of seismic activity closer to home. When the gray clouds break in Tacoma, the horizon is dominated by a towering reminder of the fragile relationship civilization keeps with nature. The herculean forces of geology have altered our history and will alter our future. They cannot be controlled – but we can be prepared.
If you don’t have a disaster preparedness plan for your home or business, today might be the day to develop one. The City of Tacoma website has a helpful guide for businesses and homeowners here.
In 2010, KUOW had an interesting series about preparedness for large seismic events in the Puget Sound region. You can read or listen to the stories here. For readers interested in more technical details of infrastructural earthquake preparedness in the region, these notes from the Earthquake Engineering Institute’s Seattle conference may be of interest to you.
Filed under: General
9 comments
T Tim Smith March 11, 2011
Notice the fault line direclty under/near the NWDC which operates with no locally approved evacuation plan for over 1600 human beings.
T Tacoma1 March 12, 2011
For my personal tsunami preparation planning, I will be drinking more on 6th ave and less on Ruston way.
Based on the fault line maps, I think that’ll cover it.
C crenshaw sepulveda March 12, 2011
I don’t know when the big one will come but when it comes we will be seriously boned. The Cascadia subduction zone, when it finally slips will drive Tacoma 100 feet into the air in a matter of seconds and drop it that 100 feet in about the same amount of seconds. Pray that you will be in an open field somewhere.
D Daniel March 14, 2011
CS:
Even if you’re in an open field when that happens, couldn’t we experience significant soils liquefaction?
C crenshaw sepulveda March 14, 2011
I suspect it would depend on the nature of the soil in the open field. Clearly sandy or loose soils would be subject to considerable liquefaction. Given that most of the Puget Sound region is comprised of glacial till deposited some 10,000 years ago as the glacier retreated I’d suspect there would be very few fields where there wouldn’t be significant liquefaction. Still I’d like my chances in a open field than anywhere in downtown Tacoma.
R RR Anderson March 14, 2011
Tollefson = Earthquake Safety zone?
C crenshaw sepulveda March 14, 2011
RR, don’t talk about the Tacoma Fault. fredo is worried that well be setting up another reconciliation memorial if word gets out on this.
P Published Author RR Anderson March 16, 2011
Kathleen Cooper Scooper will be working on a new TNT article about Clear Channel. Just sayin.
D Daniel Rahe March 16, 2011
i’ve been working on it, gathering my info and thoughts. Don’t worry. I wasn’t just going to let the moment pass.
So, who’s got their disaster kit assembled? I’ve got 8 gallons of water and 3 days worth of food. No guns, though. So, if you need anything in case of disaster, pay me a visit.