Pace Goldy, Watching the footage of the tsunami in Japan, thousands of miles inland, where only the New Madrid fault could fuck us up, this Chicagoan had one thought about Seattle: hope to God I’m not visiting to see a Mariners game when the impending Big One hits.
And it’s just a matter of time.
Some stories of past Seattle quakes. . . without Nisqually
And don’t forget the Last Big One here, one that is estimated to happen every 300-600 years and happened 311 years ago. Enjoy the beaches that are the legacy of its tsunami. . . one that went and hit Japan with enough severity that their records of it (along with First Nations’ oral histories) helped scientists figure out exactly when the earthquake hit the Cascadia region, and how strong it was. The Japanese called it the “Orphan Tsunami” since it hit them without an earthquake there as its obvious source.
On your way to the Safe–stay off the Viaduct, Chi Fan.
It will definitely happen, it just may not be in your or my lifetime. I’ve lived in Southern California for 53 years and it’s only a matter of time before we have another big one. The quakes we’ve had here, as bad as they have been, are MINOR compared to what just happened in Japan. We can only hope the next big one won’t be THAT big.
Rest In Peace, Japan earthquake and tsunami victims.
Every 500 years it’s always something.
Chance of being rescued from a below-sea-level tunnel after a major quake and volcanic mud flow – 0.000 percent.
Chance of being rescued from an elevated viaduct after a major quake and volcanic mud flow – a heck of a lot better!
Chance of being rescued from a surface highway with nice transit after the same thing – best of all!
Friends don’t let Friends force them to build Deeply Buried Tunnels they can’t afford and can’t risk …
my moms, a former chicagoan living in atlanta, called me 6am worried about the oncoming tsunami . cnn was scurrying around with weekend news boners and all their talk was freaking her out. i calmed her down and explained about the our worrisome impending big ones. she heard me say ‘mt rainier’ and thought i meant mt st helens. when i clarified and explained the mt rainier situation, the only thing i could here for the next five minutes was her nails clawing at the ceiling
‘hear’
Jesus, Riz, your poor mom. Tell her you’ll swath yourself in bubble wrap, or something, so the poor woman can go about her business.
@3, The ever vigilent protector of the Seattle tax-payer (leaps tall buildings and is speedier than a locomotive) quells the evil of another quasi-pro-tunnel comment.
Where do you change into your super hero costume now that phone booths are extinct?