Earthquakes

Sensors That Track Earthquakes Are Hackable, Researchers Find

A Greek team found they could interrupt and even falsify data.

  • By Patrick Tucker

Quake Early-Warning App Now Available to Anyone in Los Angeles

Making seismic alerts available to the public has been a priority for Mayor Eric Garcetti.

  • By Michael Grass

Watch This State Office Building Twist and Sway

For the past 15 years, the Atwood Building in downtown Anchorage has been outfitted with instruments to measure how it performs during big earthquakes.

  • By Michael Grass

Anchorage Counts Its Blessings After Dodging a Significant Catastrophe

A culture of preparedness and good fortune helped Alaska’s largest city avoid a major quake disaster.

  • By Michael Grass

Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Near Anchorage

Strong shaking and aftershocks rock Alaska’s largest population center.

  • By Michael Grass

California Legislation Would Mandate List of Quake-Vulnerable Buildings

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | School districts still scrambling for bus drivers … Mich. county removes massive “fatberg” from sewer … and a Fla. city OKs a ban on lawn fertilizer.

  • By Michael Grass

This Dangerous Volcano Is Dangerously Undermonitored

And the battery on Glacier Peak's lone seismometer is expected to fail soon.

  • By Michael Grass

This 106-Year-Old Risk Makes the Case for a Subway in Portland

What will come first? A new river crossing Oregon's largest city needs or a massive earthquake?

  • By Michael Grass

How One Quake-Prone State Organizes Volunteers to Inspect Damaged Buildings

“There are a lot of engineers and architects … who are willing to come out and volunteer,” according to Jonathan C. Siu, Seattle’s principal building official.

  • By Michael Grass

The Limits of Earthquake Early-Warning Alerts

Last week’s quake near L.A. shows the promise of the West Coast seismic notification system under development. But its effectiveness will depend on those using the technology.

  • By Michael Grass

FEMA Wants Counties to Take Charge of Pre-Disaster Logistics

The agency has its hands full with 21 disasters in 14 states, which means federal assistance may arrive slowly in the event of yet another national emergency.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

As a High-Tech Quake Alert System Takes Shape, There’s a Lower-Tech Way to Save Lives

Many West Coast localities still struggle with certain types of dangerous buildings.

  • By Michael Grass
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This Small California District Discovered Earthquake Risks It Never Knew It Had

One Concern is helping the Woodside Fire Protection District shore up disaster resilience with hazard modeling.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

State and Local Officials Press for More Resources to Reduce Risks From Natural Hazards

“Over the last half-dozen years every one of our federal and state funding lines has been cut back,” according to Alaska Earthquake Center seismologist Mike West.

  • By Bill Lucia

What We Can Learn From Tuesday’s Orderly Tsunami Evacuations

The 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska didn’t cause major damage but the local response underscores some important lessons in emergency preparedness.

  • By Michael Grass

Yes, Boston Faces a Very Real Earthquake Risk

A repeat of the 1755 Cape Ann quake could devastate one of the nation’s oldest cities. But the costs of strengthening vulnerable buildings and infrastructure may not be worth it.

  • By Michael Grass

Los Angeles Seeks to Build—and Share—an Earthquake Early Warning App

The effort is part of a pledge by Mayor Eric Garcetti, as well as a broader push to bring an earthquake early warning system to the West Coast.

  • By Mitch Herckis

Getting Ahead of Hurricanes With Data-Driven Evacuation Planning

A growing number of cities are looking to do more with transportation data analytics before disasters strike.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

West Coast Cities and States Should Be More Worried About the Crisis in Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria has cut off access to drinking water, sewage, electricity and telecommunications across the U.S. commonwealth. Here’s why Seattle or L.A. might end up being the next San Juan.

  • By Michael Grass

More Good News for a Promising Earthquake Early-Warning Tool

Here’s what’s planned for the next phase of the ShakeAlert system that’s been under development on the West Coast.

  • By Michael Grass

WATCH: This Is What a Megaquake Will Do to an Important Lifeline in Portland

Also in our Weekend State and Local Digest: Maine’s unvaccinated kindergartners; Sacramento seeks out Filipino teachers; and Alabama reverses its ban on margarita pitchers.

  • By Route Fifty Staff