May 2021: Everyone knows about “The Big One.” A massive earthquake is expected to hit the Northwest. It will be centered off the Pacific coast, causing destruction far inland. But there are dangerous faults right under metropolitan Puget Sound, too — with comparable power for destruction.

1. Buried danger: A slumbering geologic fault beneath us
An earthquake along the southern Whidbey Island fault reshaped the land some 2,700 years ago. Another big one is expected, and it could be devastating.
Read more

2. Built on pudding: Can modern quake engineering prevail?
At least 30,000 people in Snohomish County live on saturated soils and sediment that will behave like shaken liquid when a big earthquake hits.
Read more

3. Aftermath: Infrastructure won't fare well in a big quake
Shockwaves from a shallow fault here could ravage bridges, schools and the water supply. Emergency planners want you to be ready.
Read more
Where to learn more, how to prepare
-
More about earthquakes in the region (Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Planning)
-
Personal and neighborhood disaster preparedness (Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management)
-
Real-time event monitoring (Pacific Northwest Seismic Network)
-
Before, during and after earthquakes (Ready.gov)
-
Earthquakes overview and resources (U.S. Geological Survey)
Everyone knows about “The Big One.” A massive earthquake is expected to hit the Northwest. It will be centered off the Pacific coast, causing destruction far inland. But there are dangerous faults right under metropolitan Puget Sound, too — with comparable power for destruction.

1. Buried danger: A slumbering geologic fault beneath us
An earthquake along the southern Whidbey Island fault reshaped the land some 2,700 years ago. Another big one is expected, and it could be devastating.
Read more

2. Built on pudding: Can modern quake engineering prevail?
At least 30,000 people in Snohomish County live on saturated soils and sediment that will behave like shaken liquid when a big earthquake hits.
Read more

3. Aftermath: Infrastructure won't fare well in a big quake
Shockwaves from a shallow fault here could ravage bridges, schools and the water supply. Emergency planners want you to be ready.
Read more
Where to learn more, how to prepare
-
More about earthquakes in the region (Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Planning)
-
Personal and neighborhood disaster preparedness (Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management)
-
Real-time event monitoring (Pacific Northwest Seismic Network)
-
Before, during and after earthquakes (Ready.gov)
-
Earthquakes overview and resources (U.S. Geological Survey)