#Seismac gaps in washington state android
#Seismac gaps in washington state download

If you are outdoors, stay away from buildings or other objects that could fall on you. If you are indoors, stay inside and avoid doorways. Here are a few ways to protect yourself during an earthquake, according to the U.S. Covering your head and neck is extremely important, and staying on your knees and crawling will help protect your vital organs. If an earthquake starts, drop to the ground and cover and hold onto something sturdy, like a table or desk. “During an earthquake, remember to Drop, Cover, and Hold On to protect yourself from the shaking as well as the potential of objects falling on you during the shaking,” Reusch wrote in an email. Protecting yourself during an earthquake is extremely important as most injuries occur from flying or falling objects. Fix any structural issues in your home or buildings. Store breakable or heavy items on the bottom of shelves. Put together a supply kit that includes essential items such as food, water, fire extinguishers and flashlights. Department of Homeland Security also advises preparation for an earthquake: Participate in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drills that occur on the third Thursday of every October. Consider if you should get earthquake insurance. Secure items in your home or workplace that could cause damage during an earthquake, such as a tall bookcase, heavy frames or flammable appliances. Prepare for other hazards that might result from an earthquake, such as a tsunami or landslide.

The department also advises Washington residents to: When planning for an earthquake, you should prepare to be on your own for at least three days, according to The Washington Department of Natural Resources. The United States Geological Survey has a live map of ongoing and recent earthquakes around the world, along with their magnitudes.

#Seismac gaps in washington state download

Residents can download the app on their phones through the App Store or Google Play.

#Seismac gaps in washington state android

The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning alerts warn residents of incoming earthquakes through the MyShake app, built-in software on Android Phones, and the Wireless Emergency Alert system on all phones. Residents wanting to receive local emergency alerts must opt into the service online through the Washington Emergency Management Division. Local “OPT IN” emergency alerts come from your specific county that offers localized emergency alerts to be sent to your phone as a text message or email.

Residents must go into their phone's settings to make sure the alerts are turned on. Wireless Emergency Alerts sends text messages to your mobile phone to alert you of earthquakes, AMBER alerts, tsunami warnings and more. The state’s emergency management division encourages Washington residents to be signed up for Wireless Emergency Alerts, Local “OPT IN” emergency alerts and the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning alerts. Washington residents have multiple ways to receive earthquake warnings before shaking occurs. “The USGS (United States Geological Survey) estimates that the risk of a Cascadia Earthquake is around 10-15% chance over the next 50 years with crustal faults such as the Seattle Fault having an approximate 5-7% chance in the next 50 years,” Daniel Eungard, a Geologist for the Washington Geological Survey, wrote in an email. Many active faults across Washington state cause the risk of earthquakes to be high, and some faults in the state have not been studied enough to determine their potential risk. “We also have several faults near the surface that produce shaking such as earthquakes in the past few years near Bremerton and Monroe.” “Washington sits where two plates come together, giving us the potential of large offshore earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone as well as the possibility of deeper earthquakes such as the 2001 Nisqually earthquake that caused shaking up and down the I-5 corridor from the southern Puget Sound region,” Mouse Reusch, ShakeAlert Regional Coordinator wrote in an email. These sudden shifts and movements cause the ground to shake as energy travels in waves across areas.įuture earthquakes are expected, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources states that in the next 50 years, most of Washington’s populated areas have a 40-80% chance of a large earthquake occurring. Most earthquakes take place along faults, or fractures within the earth where rock moves past each other. “The process of breaking and moving rock releases a large amount of energy that travels through the Earth as seismic waves,” according to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Earthquakes are caused by movement in the Earth when tectonic plates shift.