Earthquakes and tsunamis

Planning for earthquakes and tsunamis

Coastal Washington is not only vulnerable to chronic hazards such as erosion and flooding, but is also subject to potential catastrophic hazards like earthquakes and tsunamis. These low-frequency, high-risk hazards may happen in tandem, as in the case of a major Cascadia subduction zone or large Seattle fault event. These events may have lasting impacts on regional sea levels due to substantial changes in height of existing land. Washington is also at risk for other types of tsunamis, including tsunamis generated by landslides and distant tsunamis that originate from faraway sources such as Alaska or the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

Our work focuses on helping coastal communities plan and prepare for a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami events to reduce potential impacts. There are a number of planning tools that can be used to identify geologic hazards and inform where and how development occurs to minimize risk and mitigate impacts. We work with our state and federal partners to help coastal communities navigate options by providing guidance and best practices.