OH SNAP!

[CLANG]

Listening to Ed Schulz' radio show, David Shuster was saying that because of the tectonic shift from the Chile earthquake, the chances are much higher now that the Northwest US will have a MAJOR quake sooner rather than later. He mentioned Portland or Seattle.

That's all I know - Shuster will have details and interviews during his 3pm show on MSNBC.:scared:

Edited to include an article:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/01/earlyshow/main6254968.shtml

[Warpy]

1. News from the seismologists at NM tech today

said NM rose and fell half an inch during the major quake in Chile. I'm not surprised. I'm a light sleeper and did wake up and look at the clock.

Strong aftershocks are continuing in Chile. It's a mess there, although not nearly as bad as Haiti. People are still afraid to sleep indoors, though.

[Juneboarder]

3. At an 8.8 magnitude...

I'd be afraid to sleep indoors too! I lived in Northridge, during the Northridge Quake '94 and that was scarier than ever. I fear earthquakes today over that event 16 years ago...

[goclark]

7. Me too, I was living in LA

What was the size of that earthquake?

[Juneboarder]

12. 6.7...

I'll never forget that. I was only 13 at the time, but recall many people talking about how "they" made it a 6.7 just so it was under 7.0, thus avoiding any federal assistance. I also recall the local news releasing the richter scale reading for each zip code. Mine, 91326, read over 9... Port-a-potty's on each street since our water was out for days. Good thing lots of white folks lived in that area with lots of money; it didn't take long for business as usual to return.

[goclark]

14. It felt like more than a 6.7 to me ~ txs for the info nt

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. The thinking used to be that --

an earthquake in one area would create no increase in the chance of an earthquake in another are, but the new thinking is that there can be a relationship. :scared: IIRC, the Washington coast has the same type of fault (where one plate goes under another) as Chile, while CA has a slip fault (the plates grind parallel to each other).

I live in SF and went through Loma Prieta while visiting Santa Cruz for the day.

I just got paid today and one thing I am going to do with the $$$ is update my earthquake kit.

[Juneboarder]

4. At least you got paid!!

I was supposed to get paid on friday and got nada...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Have you got evidence to support that?

That's what the article's header says, but that's not what the scientist is saying at all.

The article has all kinds of mistakes.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. Here you go --

An earthquake in Chile cannot trigger a quake here in CA, but a quake in Modesto could trigger a quake here in San Francisco.


http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/megaqk_facts_fantasy.php

Two major earthquakes occurred on the same day, so they must be related.
NOT LIKELY: Often, people wonder if an earthquake in Alaska may have triggered an earthquake in California; or if an earthquake in Chile is related to an earthquake that occurred a week later in Mexico. Over long distances, the answer is no. Even the Earth's rocky crust is not rigid enough to transfer stress efficiently over thousands of miles. There is evidence to suggest that earthquakes in one area can trigger seismic activity within a few hundred miles, including aftershocks clustered near the main shock. There is also evidence that some major earthquakes manage to trigger seismicity over much greater distances (thousands of miles), but these triggered quakes are small and very short lived.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130130636.htm


Earthquakes At Edges Of Tectonic Plates Can Trigger Second Earthquakes At Different Time And Place

ScienceDaily (Feb. 4, 2008) — Earthquakes occurring at the edges of tectonic plates can trigger events at a distance and much later in time, according to a team of researchers reporting in the journal Nature on January 31. These doublet earthquakes may hold an underestimated hazard, but may also shed light on earthquake dynamics.

[postulater]

8. What do you put in an earthquake kit?

I don't live in an earthquake prone area.

[SoCalDem]

9. We have TWO kits..

car:

blanket(s)
comfortable sturdy shoes
water
flashlights
flares
crank radio
graham crackers
hard hat
small trenching shovel

home:

same stuff as above

[Hell Hath No Fury]

11. Here is a local link --

to what goes into a kit. You are supposed to have one at home, a smaller one with maps and strong shoes in your car, and one with strong shoes, a whistle, and flashlight in your desk/work area at your job. This article calls for three days worth of supplies, but more recently they are saying at least a week, possibly two.

http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/special/quakes/1.1.html

On edit:

You should also plan for your pets needs, as well -- food, water, any medications.

I have all of my stuff in a large, plastic garbage can on wheels and a screw down lid.

[Warpy]

10. Keeping that kit updated is a good thing to do

While my part of NM is considered a moderate danger zone, most of the quakes here have been like the quakes in Boston, subtle affairs when people know something is weird but generally don't realize it was an earthquake until the news announces it. I've always noticed them and known what they were, so I think I'll stay out of California. The frequent quakes would drive me more bonkers than I already am.

My own prep is centered more around having water available should it be shut down for an extended period. I recently when through 4 days of no water when a supply line broke, hardly noticed the inconvenience beyond not being able to shower, but the water in storage is now replenished. You just never know what's going to happen.

[Caliman73]

6. It is concerning

Living in Northern California, I finally started building up a bit of reserve of food & water, temporary shelter, and medical equipment in the event of an earthquake. It may be irrelevant if the earthquake is catastrophic, but I figured I would make the effort. Many people in California live with the thought of earthquake in the back of our mind, although I am sure that many just live in denial and choose not to prepare because it makes it more real. I hope that I never have to use my supplies and that I just threw away money, but I know that the reality is more when than if.