Kathryn Schulz is the author of The Really Big One and How to Stay Safe When the Big One Comes , an American journalist who has contributed to numerous non-fiction genres. She joined New Yorker in 2015 and won Pulitzer Prize for writing an article regarding the potential occurrence of an intensive earthquake in the Pacific Northwest. Kathryn Schulz was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and graduated from Brown University in 1996 ( Wikipedia, 2010). She began her journalism career in Feed magazine, a company she worked between 1995 and 2001. From 2001 to 2006, she becomes the editor of an online environmental magazine called Grist ( Wikipedia, 2010) . Schulz is the writer of the book Being Wrong: Adventures in the margin of error, written essays, and engaged in reporting in media houses such as The Nation, The Huffington Post, New York Magazine, The Boston Globe and The New Yorker.
The Really Big One Summary
The article covers information about the relation between the magnitude of an earthquake and its consequences. Notably, the Loma Prieta earthquake that occurred in California in 1989 had a magnitude of 6.9, and it lasted for 15 seconds. The earthquake caused damage worth six billion dollars ( Schulz, 2015) . Earthquakes that last for four minutes are estimated to have a magnitude of 9.0. Earthquake and subsequent tsunamis have led to damages in properties and loss of lives in Japan. In 2005, the earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 was experienced in Japan, and it caused the death of more than 18,000 people and the meltdown of the Fukushima power plant, a project worth $220 billion ( Schulz, 2015) . The occurrence of earthquakes, according to Chris Goldfinger, a paleo seismologist at the Oregon State University, views that the main earthquake was bound to happen soon.
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The seismologists argue that a significant earthquake is bound to happen at a fault line called the Cascadia subduction zone. The subduction zone is a part of the planet where tectonic plate slides over another. The tectonic plates in the region have been compressing upwards and eastwards at the rate of 30-40 millimeters a year ( Schulz, 2015) . With time, it is believed that the tectonic activity will lead to the rebounding of North America like a spring. The seismologists’ postulate that if the Cascadia subduction zones slide to the southern part only, the region will experience an earthquake with a magnitude of between 8.0 and 8.6 ( Schulz, 2015) . However, if the entire Cascadia zone gives way at once, a full margin will occur, resulting in an earthquake with a degree between 8.7 and 9.2. As such, North America is expected to experience an earthquake that can lead to devastating effects on people and property.
During the occurrence of a big earthquake, the elevation and compressions that the cascades from California to Canada had formed will drop by six feet. Part of the shift will occur in the sea leading to the displacement of the colossal quantity of seawater. Cascadia earthquake and tsunami is projected to cause the death of 13, 0000 people and injuries of approximately 27,000 ( Schulz, 2015) . A million displaced people will be left homeless, whereas 2.5 million will need help in terms of food and water ( Schulz, 2015) . The Cascadia subduction zone earthquake is expected to take place in fifty years to come. Ghost trees and orphan tsunami have supported the evidence of the likelihood of earthquakes and tsunami in Cascadia. Based on the ghost tree's perspective, the trees in ghost forests had dried up due to volcanic activities below Juan de Fuca plate, which has been heating and melting up everything above it. Apart from that, a seismologist called Atwater argues that ghost forests resulted from an earthquake that took place between 1699 and 1700, causing land to sink, subsequently killing the cedar trees.
The orphan tsunami ideology is based on views that the subduction region had been vulnerable to tsunamis from 599 A.D ( Schulz, 2015) . During the Genroku era, six hundred-mile waves were believed to have struck Japan's coastal region, leading to the leveling of homes, accidents at sea, and breaching castle moat. Prior Genroku era, tsunamis were caused by earthquakes, but shaking on the ground had not been experienced. The incident was named an orphan tsunami since the waves lacked discernible origin. Through research, Goldfinger and colleagues established that the recurrence interval between earthquakes in the Cascades is 243 years ( Schulz, 2015) . Therefore, counting from the 1700 earthquake that took place in the Cascadia subduction zone, the continent is on three hundred and fifty years basing on the cycle of a 243-year cycle between earthquakes ( Schulz, 2015) . The comprehension wave radiating outward from the fault line is the first sign of the Cascadia earthquake's emergence.
How To Stay Safe When The Big One Comes
The Cascadia earthquakes will affect Cape Mendocino, California, towards Vancouver Island in Canada. The risk associated with the earthquakes is characterized by the susceptibility of occupants of areas mentioned above to fault line, landslides, and liquefaction, local seismic codes, and kind of inhabitants' structure. The Cascadia earthquake will affect the Southern part of the zone with a magnitude of between 8.0 and 8.6, causing adverse effects on the Pacific Northwest ( Schulz, 2015) . The problem will result in the isolation of different areas in the zone to lead to difficulties in reaching out for help among the affected population.
Various ways can be used to lessen the impacts of Cascadia earthquakes. One of the essential free and inexpensive methods is providing information to individuals and families about emergency preparedness. The inhabitants of the people living in risk areas are required to look up for guidelines for the needs and resources that are available for their community members. Another way of reducing the effects earthquake is to bolt the foundation of homes, especially for those living in the west of the Cascade Mountains ( Schulz, 2015) . The homes made of wood, just like those in Pacific-Northwest, are suitable for a pandemic. The homes are supple, and thus, they can withstand the high magnitude of earthquakes. The risk regions should also focus on ensuring they bolt the foundation of their homes. The residents of people in risk zones should consider securing their homes at a cost between $2,000 and $6,000 for upgrading purposes. Despite the cost, one views that it is worth as compared to the consequences of the earthquake.
The people living in the Cascadia subduction zone should also consider strapping down their water heater. A water heater has a big heavy object and open flame. During earthquakes, it can smash, causing fire or floods or even both. One should ensure they are knowledgeable on how to turn off water and gas from the source. People should also redecorate their homes to suit the gravity. Home decors such as houseplants, trophies, and vases should be accustomed in such as a way that they can be requisitioned as a weapon to avert damages during the Cascadia earthquake. One should move heavy objects to lower shelves. People should avoid hanging pictures and sharp-edged objects above a bed. Families should also make plans for communication agents since earthquakes lead to separating families and also results in compromising the telecommunication system ( Schulz, 2015) . Cascadia earthquake will make it impossible to track one another through texts or phone calls. Families should ask those who reside outside the Cascadia subduction zone to serve as a contact person. Parents should also learn regarding earthquake plans at their children’s day-care centers, schools, and camps. People should also be aware of their neighbors. Neighbors are viewed as de-facto first responders during calamities such as Cascadia earthquakes due to its anticipated widespread damage to infrastructure.
References
Schulz, K. (2015). The earthquake that will devastate the Pacific Northwest . The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one
Schulz, K. (2015). How to stay safe when the big one comes . The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-to-stay-safe-when-the-big-one-comes
Wikipedia. (2010). Kathryn Schulz . Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved July 10, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Schulz
