Oregon Earthquake Awareness & Resources

Oregon earthquake awareness and resources should be used to assist you in obtaining information on seismic hazards and earthquake preparedness.:

Earthquake Information from the USGS

United States Geologic Survey Hazards Program: The United States Geologic Survey Earthquake Hazards Program is responsible for monitoring, reporting, and researching earthquakes and earthquake hazards.

National Earthquake Information Center: The National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) determines the location and size of all destructive earthquakes worldwide and immediately disseminates this information to concerned national and international agencies, scientists, and the general public.

United States Geologic Survey Hazard Maps: The National Seismic Hazard Maps (NSHM) Produces US national maps showing earthquake ground motions maps which show detailed probabilistic seismic hazard maps for urban areas.

United States Geologic Survey Earthquake for Kids: Earthquake information and learning from the United States Geologic Survey for kids.

Earthquake Preparedness

American Red Cross: The American Red Cross helps prepare communities for emergencies and keep people safe every day.

Federal Emergency Management Agency: The agency of the US government tasked with Disaster Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery planning.

Simpson Strong Tie: Get information on structural connectors, shear walls, anchors, fastening systems, and seismic testing for stronger and safer wood and steel construction.

SafetyCentral: Earthquake Safety Fasteners & Furniture Straps: SafetyCentral.com provides quality emergency survival kits and supplies for home, business or vehicles.

Association of Bay Area Governments Home Quake Safety Toolkit: The Association of Bay Area Governments website covers retrofitting & quakeproofing your possessions.

Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. News and information about state geology, gems and minerals, earthquakes and other natural hazards.

The Geologic Data Compilation: The Geologic Data Compilation is where you can view Oregon stratigraphy, rock type, and rock property theme maps on topographic and shaded relief backdrops along with faults, & formation boundaries

Pilot LIDAR Project: Portland Metro Area. LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a way to map the surface of the earth. You can display overlays, such as tax lot outlines, streets, and five geo hazard study maps. You can zoom directly to your address if it is in the mapped area.

Gas Shutoff Devices: Learn how to manually turn off the gas service via the gas shutoff valve which is the most common method to stop the flow of gas serving a building, or part of a building, in case of an emergency.

Online Learning

The Center for Earthquake Research: The Center for Earthquake Research provides information on the New Madrid Seismic Zone which is located in the Central US.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography: An interactive Richter Scale which will demonstrate the calculation of the magnitude of an earthquake based on amplitude and S and P wave locations.

SeismoSurfing index by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network: Web connections to original seismic data or seismic research information.

Pacific Northwest Seismic Zone

Pacific Northwest Seismograph Network: Based at the University of Washington, the PNSN operates seismograph stations and locates earthquakes in Washington and Oregon.

The Cascadia Region Earthquake Work Group: The Cascadia Region Earthquake Work group is a coalition of private and public representatives working together to improve the ability of Cascadia Region communities to reduce the effects of earthquake events

United States Geologic Survey the Canby-Molalla Fault: A United States Geological Survey of the Canby-Molalla fault.

Regional Hazard Viewer: An online interface to information about hazard risks throughout the state of Oregon.

Tsunami Information from the USGS

Tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest: The Pacific Northwest is the site of the Cascadia subduction zone, where an oceanic tectonic plate (the Juan de Fuca plate) is being pulled and driven beneath a continental plate (the North American plate). Earthquakes along the fault that is the contact between the two plates, termed the interplate thrust or megathrust, may generate significant local tsunamis in the Pacific Northwest.