Thursday, March 17, 2011

Earthquake Vulnerable - 3-12-11

Kitsap Sun Article.  Chris Dunagan wrote a pertinent article for Illahee residents in today's (Saturday's) Kitsap Sun regarding how this area is vulnerable to the same kind of earthquakes that happened in Japan.  http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/mar/11/japanese-earthquake-could-be-replicated-here/ What was interesting for the Illahee Community Club board members, who met on Thursday evening - the night before the Japan earthquake, discussed how the Illahee community lies on a fault line and that it is therefore more vulnerable to earthquakes and that this fact needs to be included in the Illahee film project, currently underway. 
 
Call From Physicist.  It was related on Thursday evening that a former Illahee resident received a call from a college friend, a physicist, who was working with USGS regarding the Seattle earthquake fault, who advised her to take out earthquake insurance since the Seattle fault line extended into the Illahee area.  We don't know if that family ever did get earthquake insurance since they have since moved.  We have talked with others in the area who are aware of the fault line and do have earthquake insurance.
Fault Line Extends to Illahee.  The first time many became aware that the Seattle fault line extends into the Illahee area, was during a presentation of the Illahee Creek Watershed Surface Management Plan report at the Norm Dick's Center by Dr. Derek Booth of Stilwater Sciences and Erin Nelson of Parametrix.  Both are licensed geologists and civil engineers, and during the presentation discussed that Illahee is indeed more vulnerable since it is located along the Seattle fault line.
Fault Line Map.  We found the attached USGS map as part of presentation made at a 2005 conference on the Seattle Fault.  Note how the fault line goes right through the tip of Bainbridge Island, through Illahee, and into Dyes Inlet.  

Cost of Earthquake Insurance?  We have residents who have expressed interest in EQ insurance so if anyone can give them an idea of what it costs, we will pass it on.

Jim Aho

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