Earthquake Hazards
Earthquakes pose several hazards to the natural and built environment we live in.
Hazards associated with earthquakes include:
- Ground shaking;
- Landslides;
- Liquefaction; and
- Tsunamis.
To help the public plan for and mitigate earthquake hazards, maps can be created to delineate areas prone to these hazards.
Hazard maps help save lives and property by alerting people to the various kinds and severity of earthquake hazards throughout the United States. Earthquake hazard maps exist on a national scale (US and Canada), and higher resolution maps may be obtained for various communities from state and local agencies.
For more information on earthquake hazards:
- National Hazard Maps:
- Regional Hazard Maps:
- Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
- Oregon Emergency Management Department
- Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- California Department of Conservation
- California Emergency Management Agency
- Many county and city emergency-management agencies also provide locally-specific hazard maps. One example is the "Urban seismic hazard’ for the City of Seattle. These maps provide a high-resolution view of the potential for strong earthquake shaking. One application overlays the distribution of un-reinforced masonry buildings (blocks within the ellipses), which are highly vulnerable when shaken, to prioritize their retrofit or removal. These maps can be downloaded from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/pacnw/hazmap/seattle/index.php
