News | Natural Hazards

May 3, 2017 / Geology, M9

UW seismologist John Vidale elected to National Academy of Sciences

John E. Vidale, a University of Washington professor of Earth and space sciences, is among 84 new members and 21 foreign associates elected this week as members of the National Academy of Sciences. Academy members are recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, according to a news release from the academy.
Vidale studies Earth’s interior, including earthquakes and volcanoes.

Apr 10, 2017 / Geology, M9

Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, USGS and partners launch West Coast earthquake early warning system

The U.S. Geological Survey and university, public and private partners held an event April 10 at the University of Washington to introduce the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning program as a unified, West Coast-wide system. The event also introduced the first pilot uses of the earthquake early warning in Washington and Oregon.
The first Pacific Northwest pilot users of the system are Bothell, Wash.-based RH2 Engineering, which will use the alerts to secure municipal water and sewer systems so these structures remain usable after a major quake.

Mar 31, 2016 / M9

The Interface between Natural Hazards and People

Associate Professor and M9 Project investigator, Joe Wartman, recently published an op-ed on the interface between natural hazards and people. The opinion article, titled “What we’ve learned from the deadly Oso, Washington landslide two years on”, can be accessed here.

Feb 17, 2016 / Geology, M9

Seattle Times editorial and Eugene Mayor call for earthquake early warning

Seattle Times editorial
“Congress is finally waking up to the need for better earthquake preparedness in the Pacific Northwest.”

Register-Guard opinion piece
Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy – “A can-do, action-oriented approach to individual preparedness, a civic emphasis on resilience, and public and private investment in earthquake early warning are all steps that will keep us safer.”

Feb 5, 2016 / M9

M9 Meeting: Timothy McDaniels (UBC)

Professor Tim McDaniels (UBC) will speak about “A yawning governance gap that degrades regional infrastructure resilience” at the M9 All-Hands Meeting on Tuesday, February 9. M9 Meetings are held from 2:30-3:30 PM in Molecular Engineering room 115.
Read more about Tim’s work on his website.

Feb 1, 2016 / Geology, M9

UW awarded private, public grants to develop earthquake early warning tool

The University of Washington is among West Coast universities awarded new funding for earthquake early warning systems, announced Feb. 2 as part of a White House Earthquake Resilience Summit.
The UW-based Pacific Northwest Seismic Network is helping to develop ShakeAlert, an automated alert system that could save lives and prevent millions of dollars in damages by providing seconds to minutes of warning before shaking begins.

Jan 31, 2016 / Geology, M9

UW seismologist speaking at White House earthquake preparedness summit

A University of Washington seismologist is participating in a White House summit Tuesday that will focus on national earthquake preparedness. The event will be webcast live from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Pacific time.
Sally Jewell, secretary of the Department of the Interior, and John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, are scheduled to give the introductory remarks.

Jan 28, 2016 / Geology, M9

Earthquake Authority: Q&A with UW’s John Vidale

Alongside fellow experts, UW professor John Vidale is working toward making the earthquake-prone Pacific Northwest a safer place. Vidale answers some of our most pressing questions.

Dec 22, 2015 / Geology, M9

Dating historic activity at Oso site shows recurring major landslides

The large, fast-moving mudslide that buried much of Oso, Washington in March 2014 was the deadliest landslide in U.S. history. Since then it’s been revealed that this area has experienced major slides before, but it’s not known how long ago they occurred.
University of Washington geologists analyzed woody debris buried in earlier slides and used radiocarbon dating to map the history of activity at the site.

Nov 15, 2015 / Geology, M9

Natural Hazards & Resilient Communities Lecture Video: UW’s John Vidale

Unlike some natural disasters that we can depend on arriving at our doorstep every year—hurricanes, tornados, fires—earthquakes can be out of sight and out of mind because of their relative infrequency. But when the Big One strikes, it could be a real catastrophe for the Pacific Northwest coast, deeply disrupting the lives and economies throughout the region.
John Vidale, professor of Earth and Space Sciences and chief seismologist for the State of Washington, wants people to be aware of the threats.