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Earthquake Resources for Western United States

Earthquakes in Your Region

By Andrew Alden, About.com

Quake-related information—maps, reports, advice—for the United States west of the Rockies. Northern California and Southern California have their own separate categories.

Western U.S.: Seismic Hazard Map—From the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program.

Western U.S.: US Earthquake Information by State—This handy linklist from the National Earthquake Information Center includes Alaska and Hawaii.

Alaska: Seismic Hazard Map—From the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Program.

Alaska: Seismicity—Earthquake maps and lists from the Alaska Earthquake Information Center.

Alaska: The Next Big Quake Is Sooner Than You Think—The University of Alaska Sea Grant College Program aims to ensure public safety in Alaska, where more than half of American quakes occur.

Arizona: Earthquake Information—The Arizona Earthquake Information Center is devoted to the state's particular seismic situation.

Cascadia (Coastal Calif/Ore/Wash): The Coming Giant Earthquake—Cascadia is America's own tectonic version of Sumatra, where the magnitude 9.3 earthquake and tsunami of 2004 occurred.

Cascadia: Pacific Northwest Earthquake Information—The University of Washington maintains this site about Washington and Oregon quakes.

Guam: Earthquake Information—A handy linklist from the National Earthquake Information Center.

Hawaii: Earthquakes—The Hawaii Volcano Observatory has a special section for seismicity on the island of Hawai'i.

Mountain States: Historic Earthquake Accounts—The University of Utah has news stories, photos and personal accounts of 48 historic earthquakes in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah starting in 1876.

Nevada: Earthquakes in Nevada and How to Survive Them—The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology put together this excellent short guide.

Nevada: Fault Activity—A colorful map showing the estimated vertical movement along hundreds of the state's fault lines.

New Mexico: Earthquakes—A page from the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources has quick answers to questions plus links to more details.

Oregon: Seismic Hazard Map—Colored maps show risks of various aspects of Oregon earthquakes, from the US Geological Survey.

Texas: Earthquakes—A FAQ from the University of Texas.

Utah: Earthquake Threats—From the University of Utah site, a broad guide for citizens living along the Wasatch Front and the Intermountain Seismic Belt.

Washington: Mount Rainier Seismicity—This volcano poses many different threats to the Seattle area, earthquakes being just one.

Washington: Preparedness Pays in Seattle—The city promotes earthquake preparedness through organization and retrofitting.

Wyoming: Earthquakes—A database from the Wyoming State Geological Survey gives basic information about each notable quake since statehood in 1870.

Wyoming: Yellowstone Earthquakes—The University of Utah presents current and historic quake maps of this fascinating region where the North American plate is cracking and erupting lava.

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