West Coast ‘Quake Warning System Being Tested
A 600 mile-long fault line running along the coast of the Pacific Northwest has people on edge but University of Washington researchers aren’t taking it sitting down.Fear for the oft-predicted “Big One” has heightened since Japan’s 2011 earthquake, creating an increased interest in an alert system that could save lives and important infrastructure.
The fault line shared by American and Canadian coastlines hasn’t created a serious temblor since the 1700’s and seismologists are saying it could happen in this lifetime. ShakeAlert, the alert system, is designed to send warnings when a quake is coming and calculates how much time before it hits based on depth, strength and distance from epicenter.
Currently, U of W researchers are testing the system, with alerts going to hospitals, utilities and emergency management agencies in British Columbia, Oregon and Washington. “Any advance warning would be helpful - even as little as 10 seconds,” said Carmen Merlo, director of the Bureau of Emergency Management in Portland, Oregon.
When it’s operational, the system can turn off natural gas lines, power up emergency generators, and shut down machinery at plants to prevent further loss of life and property damage.
While homeowner’s insurance will not cover damage caused by earthquakes, it’s been reported that governments will step in to offer financial assistance to those affected
But ShakeAlert still has some bugs to work out of the system and changes need to be made before wide-scale implementation. But early reports are optimistic.
“This is proven technology,” said Douglas R. Toomey, a University of Oregon professor of geophysics and this state’s point person on ShakeAlert. “We would like to build it before the next large earthquake.”
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