Cascadian Earthquakes

134 years ago this week, on February 3, 1892 Salem experienced an earthquake. The following day, the Oregon Statesman featured an article on the front page titled: “Salem’s Earthquake Shock”. People in what is now Oregon experienced Cascadian earthquakes and tsunamis long before European Americans settled in this area. In 1987- U.S. Geological Survey geologist Brian Atwater found the first on-the-ground evidence for a subduction zone quake in southern Washington. Based research and testing, magnitude of the quake at 9.0 and determined that the date and time of the event was nine o’clock on the evening of January 26, 1700. We are continuing to compile the scientific and archaeological evidence of the effects of these catastrophic events to better understand our history and prepare for the future. There are also compelling indigenous oral traditions and stories about significant earthquake and tsunami events in Oregon that speak to this resilience. Jason Younker, a member of the Coquille Indian Tribe has shared his story was published as part of the Summer 2007 Oregon Historical Quarterly Special Edition—Great Cascadia Earthquakes and Tsunamis.