EARTHQUAKES INTRODUCTION

An earthquake is a sudden slipping or movement of a portion of the Earth’s crust or plates
DAMAGE CAUSED BY EARTHQUAKES , caused by a sudden release of stresses. Earthquake epicenters are usually less than 25 miles below the Earth’s surface and are accompanied and followed by a series of vibrations. Earthquakes occur without any obvious warning.
Earthquakes are such a risk because shaking ground can:
 Cause buildings to move off of their foundations or collapse.
 Damage utilities, structures, and roads.
 Cause fires and explosions.
 Cause structural instability, such as dam failures that can trigger flash floods.
Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and avalanches or tsunamis. After an earthquake, it is important to listen for emergency instructions.
Together, all of these types of damage threaten lives, property, and the environment.
LIKELIHOOD OF AN EARTHQUAKE
Twenty-six urban areas in all parts of the United States are identified as carrying significant risk of earthquake:
 The Western United States, particularly along the San Andreas Fault in California, the Cascadia Subduction Zone in western Oregon and Washington, and up the Alaskan coast
 The New Madrid Fault Zone in Missouri
A few pockets on the east coast, including coastal South Carolina and New England


Information Provided by FEMA

Visit Our Store

For Real Low Prices On Emergency Disaster Survival Supplies