people are currently registered to participate in this year's Great California ShakeOut.
are from
the North Coast area.
Number of North Coast participants in each category
View names of participants:
Counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino
Download the Living on Shaky Ground Booklet: North Coast Edition (PDF), or read it online.
The charming Northern California counties are the ideal place for fans of nature, hiking, and small ocean towns. But like all of California, this is earthquake country. Understanding the risks and preparing to survive and recover can help keep you and your family safe.
This region borders the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which has caused the largest earthquakes on record worldwide – some with a magnitude of 9.2 that have caused widespread damage. Earthquakes of this size can have high aftershocks and cause mild to moderate damage as far away as the Bay Area.
Life After a Big Quake
These earthquakes will disrupt services like electricity, water and sewer, and may limit access in and out of the region. Fire and police departments will be dealing with the most serious situations and may be unable to respond quickly to issues in your community. Government assistance may not be available or not enough to replace your damaged belongings or repair your home. Good news: Preparing now will give you confidence that you and your family will stay safe where the earth shakes.
In the past 150 years, nearly 40 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger have affected Northern California. Most of these earthquakes were centered on faults nearby. But very large earthquakes located elsewhere in the Pacific basin, like the 1964 magnitude 9.2 Alaska earthquake can generate tsunamis that threaten our coast.
The Northern California Coast is the most tsunami-prone area of the continental United States.
In the past 70 years: 34 tsunamis have been recorded on the North Coast. Five caused damage.
Living on Shaky Ground: How to Survive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Northern California. Humboldt State University
This section will be updated with more detailed hazard information for this area. For now, the following links provide local and statewide earthquake hazard information:
North Coast Earthquake and Tsunami information
Redwood Coast Tsunami Workgroup
Fault maps, historic earthquakes, how the ground is expected to shake, and much more
California Geological Survey (CGS)
Forecast of California Earthquakes
Southern California Earthquake Center, USGS, and CGS
Earthquake Shaking Potential Map of California (Dec. 2008)
California Geological Survey (CGS)
Maps of recent earthquakes, ShakeMaps for larger earthquakes, email notification, and more
California Integrated Seismic Network
Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards and Mitigation Information
California Emergency Management Agency
