December 24, 2009
We had an Earthquake right here in
my hometown... pretty cool!
It wasn't very big - Mag
2.9 - and
basically I just felt a quick jolt, almost like someone had
fallen off a footstool or something, only I didn't hear
anything, and if someone HAD fallen, there'd be some sort of
commotion... so I just stretched, and took my time getting
out the warm bed I was lazing around in... it was right at
8:00, and I was sleeping in a bit when it happened.
Here's where the epicenter was... the blue circle is where I
live.
More images and details:
Story from the Snoqualmie Valley
Star, our local newspaper:
Small quake shakes Snoqualmie Valley
December 24, 2009
By Laura Geggel
A magnitude 2.9 earthquake was recorded at 8 a.m.,
centered about two miles south-southeast of Snoqualmie,
according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
The earthquake occurred about 10.5 miles underground,
which is typical for crustal earthquakes, said Paul Bodin,
manager of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
Although a 2.9 is large enough to feel, Bodin said it
was not uncommon to the area.
“It actually is not very out of the ordinary at all,” he
said. “I just quickly looked at the record of earthquakes
there, and there’s been four earthquakes of 2.9 to 3.1 in
the past 10 years. Every other year there’s an earthquake
this size.”
The Seattle Fault, which crosses through downtown Seattle
to the southern part of Lake Sammamish, could have caused
the Dec. 24 earthquake, Bodin said.
“This can’t be associated with any known fault, but it’s
on the trend of the Seattle Fault and it’s right at the base
of the Cascades,” he said.
To view a map of the earthquake, visit www.pnsn.org/req2.
To report feeling the earthquake, select “Did You Feel It?”
on the dropdown menu under “Products.” In the menu bar,
enter “UW.”
By the afternoon, 128 people from 13 different zip codes
had reported feeling the quake.
“That’s actually, for a small earthquake, a large number
of responses,” Bodin said.
No injuries or damages have been reported.
