South Bend, Washington – At 7:42 a.m. November 2, 2016 a magnitude 3.79 earthquake occurred northwest of Warrenton, Oregon. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 21.3 miles. The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency is monitoring reports to the USGS and to social media pages from people who felt the earthquake around the region.
It is important to note that this earthquake was not a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and is an isolated event. With recent interest in Cascadia it is good to remember that there are numerous known fault lines in both Washington and Oregon, and that many earthquakes of this nature happen around the world on a daily basis. Because of the proximity of Pacific County to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, it is also important to remember an earthquake must be a magnitude 7.0 or greater to create a tsunami.
Coincidentally, today is the day of the regularly scheduled NOAA weather radio weekly test. Your NOAA weather radio alarm will activate today between 11:00 a.m. and noon. This is a normal occurrence and should be expected.
An event of this nature should serve as a reminder to any one in or around Pacific County that it is important to have a plan and know what to do in case of a large earthquake. Each individual needs to be prepared and practice their plan. Should you have any questions please contact Chief Deputy Stephanie Fritts [email protected] or Deputy Director Scott McDougall [email protected]. You may also call 360-642 or 875-9340.