Medium-Sized Earthquake Makes Wakeup Call
Yesterday, September 29, at 2:05 p.m., a 4.2-magnitude earthquake rattled some windows and put some nerves on edge. The adorable earthquake caused no damage, but it wasn’t exactly tiny, and it was close, sort of between Bremerton (to the southwest) and Port Orchard (to the northwest) in a census-designated place called Wauna. The quake likely originated on the Tacoma fault line.
It was felt as far north as Oak Harbor, as far west as Aberdeen, as far south as Portland, and as far east as Wenatchee. It was about 27.9 kilometers deep.
The earthquake couldn’t have been timed better: just before October, Great Shakeout month, when everybody involved in emergency preparedness reminds everyone who’s not to take some steps to get ready for quakes.
There’s no reason to panic, but it might help people spring into action to ponder a sobering reality: We could get an earthquake of about 7.8 magnitude on the Seattle Fault. A 7.8 earthquake would be 1,585 times larger than yesterday’s, which was felt by nearly 10,000 people (who reported it).
What Can You Do?
Think about being without outside help for two to four weeks (four weeks are more likely). We live on an island and a 7.8 earthquake is certainly going to shut down the bridge and the ferries for a while. It will also generate tsunamis that could reach 30 feet high in Elliot Bay. You will not be going anywhere. You will not be shopping at Town and Country or Safeway after a large quake. No helicopters are going to zoom in because the entire region will be affected. So the only food and water you will have (for a while) is what you have when it happens.
What happens when the shaking starts?
First thing is to drop to the ground, cover your head and body, and hold on. If you are in a wheelchair or have any type of mobility issues, this gets a little more complicated. Put your wheels on lock, bend over, and cover your head with a pillow or sit down and get as low as you can, while covering your head.
What happens when the shaking stops?
If you’re next to a large body of water, like Puget Sound, get to higher ground immediately. Don’t stop at Go, don’t collect $200, just move. If you have mobility issues, ask for help to get to higher ground fast. Expect tsunamis and expect aftershocks.
What will you need?
You’ll need food, water, flashlights, batteries, phone chargers and other power sources, a way to cook, a way to go to the bathroom, shelter, a way to bathe, and a way to clean. Power will be out. Our supplies lists will help you prepare.
Read about water, sanitation, and hygiene here.
Read about food here.
Where will you get help?
Initially you and your neighbors will help one another. That’s why we urge everyone to implement the Map Your Neighborhood program where they live. At Bainbridge Prepares, we’re all ready to help you get started with that.
Then you will seek information and additional medical care from your nearest Disaster Hub. Our volunteers are ready to deploy.
Other Things to Do Now
Register for the Great Shakeout, the annual global earthquake drill. This year it happens on October 15, at 10:15 a.m. Learn more.
Sign up for emergency alerts
Share all the information in this post with friends and loved ones.
Do Not Worry
Try not to lose sleep over this unless losing a little sleep is what you need to kick you into gear. Once you’ve taken some steps to prepare, you’ll discover that you feel a whole lot better because you’ll no longer be worrying about getting ready.
Most important, don’t prepare alone. Talk to neighbors, friends, and family. You can all push each other to get ready, and you will feel better about everything by being connected with others.
Remember that the Bainbridge Prepares partnership is doing everything we can to get the community ready. All that’s left is for you to do your part to ready your household.