Great Alaskan earthquake hit 49 years ago; effects felt in Washington State, too.

Large waves generated by the 9.2 magnitude Alaskan earthquake in 1964 destroyed this bridge in Washington State.

Yesterday (while we were intently focused on the aftermath of Whidbey Island landslide), was the anniversary of the March 27, 1964, earthquake in south-central Alaska that caused about 143 deaths. The magnitude 9.2 earthquake lasted for almost three minutes and caused widespread destruction to buildings, bridges and other infrastructure. In addition to hitting many  Alaskan coastal communities, tsunami waves generated by the earthquake took lives and destroyed property in British Columbia, Oregon and California, including 12 people in Crescent City, California, and four at Beverly Beach State Park in Oregon.

Here’s more information about earthquakes in Washington.

The Washington Emergency Management Division says the best way to survive any type of disaster is to have a plan, keep informed, and have a mobile survival kit. Find out if you are in a tsunami inundation zone. Download a tsunami evacuation brochure for your community. DNR worked with local governments to produce these brochures.

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Deadly Solomon Island tsunami highlights need for tsunami awareness here

In the news today are reports that magnitude 8 earthquake hit near the Solomon Islands, generating a tsunami that is reported to have damaged dozens of homes in the South Pacific island chain. At least five people were killed.

The location of the quake is in the region of the boundary of two major tectonic plates, the Australia and Pacific plates — the Australia plate is being forced (subducted) beneath the Pacific plate. For background, see today’s scientific summary report from the USGS

Another major subduction, known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone, lies just off the coast of Washington state, which is why tsunami awareness is a focus of natural hazards planning efforts here. DNR and its Geology and Earth Resources Division work with federal agencies and local governments to prepare maps of recommended tsunami evacuation routes for many coastal Washington communities. We also map earthquake faults and hazards. Local and state emergency officials rely on these maps, in addition to data and estimates prepared by DNR’s geologists and other sources to plan their responses to earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters.

DNR’s interactive web portal also offers Washington State tsunami evacuation maps. We also co-developed a smartphone application that shows the danger zones and evacuation routes (in the future we hope to update the app. to provide alerts and other information).

More DNR tsunami safety resources…

Our top five posts in January

Here are the five blogs posted in January that drew the most views by Ear to the Ground readers.

Volunteers step up to remodel DNR winter cabin in time for snowmobile season
Using a generous grant from the Washington State Snowmobile Association the Butte Busters Snowmobile Club and Association of Okanogan County Snowmobile Club led the way in a major remodel and update of the Hunters Meadow Cabin in Loomis State Forest in time for snowmobile and hunting seasons… more

‘Twas 313 years ago that the Northwest really, really shook; mega earthquake & tsunami hit on Jan. 26, 1700
And we mean: really shook. An estimated) magnitude 9.0 megathrust earthquake in 1700 on the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coastlines of Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and British Columbia produced a tsunami that is noted in 18th century Japanese documents… more

DNR will hire seasonal wildland firefighters. Apply online
DNR’s recruitment for Forest Fire Fighter Crew members and Engine Leaders/Squad Boss positions for the 2013 summer season was a popular blog post. Visit the DNR Jobs Page where you can sign up for weekly emails of new job announcements… more

Goldmark keys in on forest health and climate change; begins second term as Commissioner of Public Lands
The complete Inaugural Remarks of Peter Goldmark as presented DNR staff on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, as Goldmark begins his second term as state Commissioner of Public Lands… more

Award honors two of DNR’s finest forest health program employees
The U.S. Forest Service honored DNR employees Aleksandar Dozic, forestry technician, and Glenn Kohler, forest entomologist, with its Regional Forester’s 2012 Team Award for Excellence in Safety and Health for their innovations that reduced flight time required for forest health aerial surveys… more

 

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‘Twas 313 years ago that the Northwest really, really shook; mega earthquake & tsunami hit on Jan. 26, 1700

Click on photo to find out more about the interactive tsunami evacuation maps and smartphone and iPhone apps available for the Pacific Northwest.

Maybe it was the excitement over the NFL’s annual Pro Bowl (just kidding), but we overlooked an important observance this weekend: the 313th anniversary of the (estimated) magnitude 9.0 megathrust earthquake and tsunami that occurred on the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coastline of Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and British Columbia.

A magnitude 9.0 earthquake on the Cascadia fault would be one thousand times more powerful than the 2001 magnitude 6.8 Nisqually, Washington earthquake. The impacts on coastal communities would be similar to the earthquakes that struck Japan in March 2011 and Chile in February 2010. 

Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW) has developed a number of free products to help Cascadia residents, schools, businesses, and emergency managers become better prepared for future earthquakes. CREW’s disaster planning toolkits for small businesses, post-disaster recovery guides, and other preparedness materials are available online at www.crew.org .

Additional resources are the interactive tsunami evacuation maps of the Pacific Northwest developed by DNR and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. Those maps are tied into a web portal and apps for Android and iPhone (developed by Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems).

More information about the free TsunamiEvac-NW app and Web portal.

Because it houses the Washington State Geologist, DNR provides education and technical assistance to citizens, industry and government on geologic hazards, including tsunami risks.

DNR Spartina crew on the hunt for marine debris in Willapa Bay

DNR Spartina crew pose with an airboat full of marine debris from Willapa Bay. From left to right: Aaron Schlosser, Kevin Palmer, and Ian Brauner.

Every summer, a crew of seasonal and full-time DNR staff comb the beaches in the Willapa Bay estuary removing Spartina alterniflora, an invasive, fast-growing grass. Left unchecked, this species of cordgrass, originally from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, could threaten oyster populations in the bay by crowding out native species and disrupting the ecosystem.

Fortunately, diligence has paid off: the seasonal work to remove Spartina has reduced an area of infestation from a peak of 9,000 acres to less than 2 acres.

Normally, when the Spartina eradication season ends in mid to late October, the seasonal crews are done for the winter, and the regular staff turn to other duties. This year, however, DNR was able to extend the work of the four-man crew by more than a month—through November 15—to focus on removing marine debris from beaches around Willapa Bay.

Learn about the state’s plan to deal with marine debris at one of three community meetings

This boat washed up on Cape Disappointment State Park, June 15, 2012. The Japanese consulate in Seattle confirmed it was washed out to sea by the March 11, 2011 tsunami. Photo: WA Department of Ecology.

Do you live along the coast of Washington? Or do you like to visit the coast? Are you interesting in learning about the state’s plans to address marine debris that may cross the Pacific from the tragic March 11, 2011 Japan tsunami?

Find out more at one of three community meetings along the coast, sponsored by the Washington State Marine Debris Task Force:

November 7 in Port Angeles
6 p.m.
Port Angeles Senior Center
328 E. 7^th Street (corner of Peabody and 7^th streets)

November 15 in Ocean Shores
6:30 p.m.
Ocean Shores Convention Center
120 W. Chance A La Mer Ave.

Dec. 5 in Long Beach
3 p.m.
Peninsula Church Center
5000 “N” Place, Seaview

The state’s marine debris response plan will be a dynamic document, with new information added as needed.

Meeting details.

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B.C. earthquake gives Pacific tsunami warning system a workout

This monitoring buoy is one of dozens positioned at strategic locations throughout the Pacific and Indian oceans to help authorities forecast tsunamis. Photo: NOAA.

An earthquake off the coast of British Columbia on Saturday night gave the international tsunami warning system a workout. Fortunately, no big, damaging waves developed. The strong earthquake(7.7 magnitude) shook the Queen Charlotte Islands Saturday night just after 8 p.m. The earthquake–at a depth of 3 miles and centered 96 miles south of Masset, B.C.– triggered tsunami warnings for coastal British Columbia, Alaska and Hawaii. No impact was reported to Washington’s coast. The location of the earthquake is where two tectonic plates — the Pacific and the North America plates — meet and raise the risks of large, damaging earthquakes that could cause widespread damage in western Washington.

The weekend’s earthquake and resulting tsunami warning come just 10 days after the regional Great Shakeout earthquake drill on October 18. More than 700,000 Washington residents were signed up to participate in the awareness-raising drills, which included tsunami warning siren tests along Washington State’s outer coast.

DNR works with federal, other state and local authorities to map tsunami and earthquake risks. Here’s how to access our free maps and a smartphone app. dedicated to tsunami safety. Learn more about tsunamis.

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State task force releases response plan for dealing with marine debris that reaches Washington shores

This 20-ft power boat washed ashore at Cape Disappointment State Park on June 15, 2012 and was confirmed missing after the March 11, 2011 Japan tsunami. Photo: Washington Department of Ecology.

When the tragic tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, an estimated 5 million tons of debris were swept into the Pacific Ocean. While 70 percent of the debris sank near Japan’s shore, about 1.5 million tons dispersed in the ocean.

To date, only one item found on Washington shores has been confirmed coming from the tsunami—a 20-foot fiberglass boat that washed up at Cape Disappointment State Park in June. Even so, Washington’s beaches experienced an increase in marine debris in June, much of which may have come from the tsunami.

As the fall and winter storms roll in and currents shift, experts believe more of the debris will be washing ashore. Just how much, where it will land, and when it will arrive is difficult to predict. But a task force of Washington state agencies is planning for the eventual arrival of marine debris.

Yesterday, Washington state’s Marine Debris Task Force released the Washington State Marine Debris Response Plan to respond to the various kinds of debris that may wash ashore on our state’s beaches. This collaborative effort coordinates local, state, and federal activities, which include monitoring and assessing debris; determining the safest ways to handle large debris and possible contamination;  preventing invasive species from establishing; and protecting native fish and wildlife in their habitats.

DNR is one of the dozen or so state agencies participating in the task force, with the state’s Military Department Emergency Management Division leading the effort.

Task force members will be taking the plan, which is a work in progress, to the coastal communities for some informational meetings in Long Beach, Ocean Shores, and Port Angeles. Dates and times will be announced when the meetings have been scheduled.

• Read more about the response plan
• Washington Marine Debris web portal (includes information on how to report debris, updates on debris sightings, invasive species, potential contamination, and more.)

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State task force gets $50,000 federal grant to help with marine debris

This 20-ft power boat washed ashore at Cape Disappointment State Park on June 15, 2012, and was confirmed missing after the March 11, 2011, Japan tsunami. Photo: Washington Department of Ecology.

Earlier this week, we learned that the state will receive a $50,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address the increase in marine debris along Washington’s coast. Much of this increase may be attributed to the tragic Japan tsunami that took place March 11, 2011.

The grant funding covers the following:

• $19,000 will be used by the Department of Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) to clean coastal beaches of debris.
• $15,000 will help purchase supplies such as gloves and trash bags.
• $9,000 will pay for trash bin disposal, and hauling and disposing of large debris items.
• $7,000 will be used to buy equipment such as trash bins.

The Washington State Marine Debris Task Force applied for the NOAA grant in July. The task force is led by the state Military Department’s Emergency Management Division with participation from numerous state and federal agencies, including DNR.

In addition to the $50,00 grant, the Gov. Gregoire released $500,000 from the governor’s emergency fund, and Ecology has provided $100,000 from the state’s litter control account. Aside from the funding sources, state agencies and local communities are mostly absorbing response and cleanup costs within their existing budgets.

So far, the only confirmed debris from the tsunami is a 20-foot fiberglass boat that washed ashore on June 15 at Cape Disappointment State Park. However, coastal communities, tribes, and long-time beach cleanup volunteers are reporting that—as of late—beaches have experienced sporadic increases in marine debris. They’re reporting a lot of yellow Styrofoam, plastic bottles, small appliances, pieces of carbon fiber, mannequin parts, wood, and floats.

For more details about the grant, read the Washington Department of Ecology’s new release from  August 27.

Stay current with the marine debris situation, sign up for the marine debris listserv.

Learn what to do if you find marine debris at the tsunami/marine debris web portal.

 If you’re out on the coast and you find debris, call 1-855-WACOAST (1-855-922-6278)

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Do you know the quickest route to escape a tsunami? Our free maps and smartphone app will show you

Routes for cars (solid red line) and pedestrians (red arrows) to escape an oncoming tsunami are shown for downtown Port Townsend. Image: DNR

New brochures with maps of recommended tsunami evacuation routes for pedestrians and vehicles in several Washington coastal communities have been added to our website and are available for free download. Most of Washington’s coast, including parts of Puget Sound, is at risk from tsunamis. Evacuation routes shown in the brochures are those least likely to be blocked by landslides that might result from an earthquake that causes the tsunami. The brochures also show assembly points and public safety agencies in areas expected to be safe from tsunami waters.

The maps are a joint project of the DNR Geology and Earth Resources Division, Washington Emergency Management Division, several Tribes and the counties of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Pacific, and Whatcom.

Interactive maps of tsunami evacuation zones in both Oregon and Washington are available online and as a smartphone app (TsunamiEvac-NW).
The app and the online maps allow you to see quickly if your home, workplace, school, etc., is in a mapped tsunami hazard zone.

More information about the free TsunamiEvac-NW app and Web portal.

• Download TsunamiEvac-NW for iPhone 
• Download TsunamiEvac-NW for Android

In addition to managing more than 5.6 million acres of state-owned lands and serving as the state’s wildland fire department, DNR houses the Washington State Geologist to provide education and technical assistance to citizens, industry and government on geologic hazards, including tsunami risks.

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