Earthquakes
Quake Early-Warning App Now Available to Anyone in Los Angeles
Making seismic alerts available to the public has been a priority for Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Watch This State Office Building Twist and Sway
For the past 15 years, the Atwood Building in downtown Anchorage has been outfitted with instruments to measure how it performs during big earthquakes.
Anchorage Counts Its Blessings After Dodging a Significant Catastrophe
A culture of preparedness and good fortune helped Alaska’s largest city avoid a major quake disaster.
Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Near Anchorage
Strong shaking and aftershocks rock Alaska’s largest population center.
California Legislation Would Mandate List of Quake-Vulnerable Buildings
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | School districts still scrambling for bus drivers … Mich. county removes massive “fatberg” from sewer … and a Fla. city OKs a ban on lawn fertilizer.
This Dangerous Volcano Is Dangerously Undermonitored
And the battery on Glacier Peak's lone seismometer is expected to fail soon.
This 106-Year-Old Risk Makes the Case for a Subway in Portland
What will come first? A new river crossing Oregon's largest city needs or a massive earthquake?
How One Quake-Prone State Organizes Volunteers to Inspect Damaged Buildings
“There are a lot of engineers and architects … who are willing to come out and volunteer,” according to Jonathan C. Siu, Seattle’s principal building official.
The Limits of Earthquake Early-Warning Alerts
Last week’s quake near L.A. shows the promise of the West Coast seismic notification system under development. But its effectiveness will depend on those using the technology.
FEMA Wants Counties to Take Charge of Pre-Disaster Logistics
The agency has its hands full with 21 disasters in 14 states, which means federal assistance may arrive slowly in the event of yet another national emergency.
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As a High-Tech Quake Alert System Takes Shape, There’s a Lower-Tech Way to Save Lives
Many West Coast localities still struggle with certain types of dangerous buildings.
This Small California District Discovered Earthquake Risks It Never Knew It Had
One Concern is helping the Woodside Fire Protection District shore up disaster resilience with hazard modeling.
State and Local Officials Press for More Resources to Reduce Risks From Natural Hazards
“Over the last half-dozen years every one of our federal and state funding lines has been cut back,” according to Alaska Earthquake Center seismologist Mike West.
What We Can Learn From Tuesday’s Orderly Tsunami Evacuations
The 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska didn’t cause major damage but the local response underscores some important lessons in emergency preparedness.
Yes, Boston Faces a Very Real Earthquake Risk
A repeat of the 1755 Cape Ann quake could devastate one of the nation’s oldest cities. But the costs of strengthening vulnerable buildings and infrastructure may not be worth it.
Los Angeles Seeks to Build—and Share—an Earthquake Early Warning App
The effort is part of a pledge by Mayor Eric Garcetti, as well as a broader push to bring an earthquake early warning system to the West Coast.
Getting Ahead of Hurricanes With Data-Driven Evacuation Planning
A growing number of cities are looking to do more with transportation data analytics before disasters strike.
West Coast Cities and States Should Be More Worried About the Crisis in Puerto Rico
Hurricane Maria has cut off access to drinking water, sewage, electricity and telecommunications across the U.S. commonwealth. Here’s why Seattle or L.A. might end up being the next San Juan.
More Good News for a Promising Earthquake Early-Warning Tool
Here’s what’s planned for the next phase of the ShakeAlert system that’s been under development on the West Coast.
WATCH: This Is What a Megaquake Will Do to an Important Lifeline in Portland
Also in our Weekend State and Local Digest: Maine’s unvaccinated kindergartners; Sacramento seeks out Filipino teachers; and Alabama reverses its ban on margarita pitchers.
