Did You Feel It?

3.1 earthquake in Portland area

November 19, 2012 @ 9:07 am

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A minor earthquake with a 3.1 magnitude was recorded at Monday morning in the Portland region.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network reports the quake at 6:15 a.m. was centered about 11 miles northwest of Portland and was relatively deep, at 12 miles.

It was felt in in the outlying towns Scappoose, Oregon City and Woodburn in Oregon and in Vancouver, Brush Prairie and Ridgefield in Washington state.

Geologist Scott Burns at Portland State University told KATU-TV the quake may be related to a smaller quake Sunday of 2.3 magnitude.

Burns said quakes stronger than 2.5 can generally be felt.

“It reminds us we live in earthquake country and that we need to be prepared,” Burns said.

But he said the Monday quake should produce little if any damage.
……..
That’s true. Such small ‘quakes don’t seem to cause much damage at all.

In fact, it’s interesting to niote that statistics currently show that the number iof small earthquakes is going down.

That sounds like good news.

Until you learn that the number of bigger quakes, M5.0 and up, is increasing.

And as this report indicates very clearly, there have been a lot more of them in the past few weeks.

DutchSinse is saying that the increased activity on the Ring of Fire suggests that the West Coast US – while relatively quiet at present – should be prepared for “possible further movement” and large ‘quakes.

Sincerely.

Michael Knight

The Portland Preparedness Center

www.getreadyportland.com

Tags: Portland Area, Portland region, Portland State University, Scott Burns