When was the last earthquake you remember in Oregon?  Was it the earthquake that shook Oregon offshore in January 2003 with a 6.3 magnitude?  Or was it in September 1993 in Klamath Falls, Oregon with a 6.0 magnitude that caused an estimated 7.5 million U.S. dollars in damage?

Did you know that just yesterday on September 10, 2011, there was a magnitude 1.7 earthquake at 05:04:00 in Portland? We did!

Each year, there are over 1,000 earthquakes with magnitude 1.0 or greater in Washington and Oregon. Of these, approximately two dozen are large enough to be felt. These felt events offer us a subtle reminder that the Pacific Northwest is an earthquake-prone region. As residents of the Pacific Northwest, we should be prepared for the consequences of larger earthquakes that could result in damage to the transportation systems and lifelines.

We've heard in the news about the devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and now Japan. These places have been damaged by sizable earthquakes leaving buildings destroyed and people without a place to call home.  Though earthquakes are just another force of Mother Nature that we can’t control, there can be preventative measures taken to ensure safety.  Though you won’t become an earthquake expert just by reading the tips below, it could make a tremendous difference on the safety of you and your loved ones.

Click here for ways to stay safe during and after an earthquake and how you can best prepare you and your family for an earthquake!

 Portland Fire & Rescue

 We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

 September 12, 2011

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