Rumblings: Preparing for Cascadia - Documentary Screening and Discussion

January 26, 2025 marks the 325th anniversary of the last megathrust earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the 700-mile-long fault off the Pacific Northwest coast. To commemorate this, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network will host a screening of Rumblings: Preparing for Cascadia on January 26 from 2-4pm at the Art House (492 E 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401).

The title image of rumblings with the film screening details. The details read "Film screening for Cascadia earthquake anniversary. Rumblings: Preparing for Cascadia followed by Q and A panel with director Brian Landon. January 26 from 2-4 pm. Art house cinema (Eugene, OR). There are logos at the bottom for University of Oregon, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Crescent, Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, and Oregon Hazard Laboratory.

Rumblings explores the threat of a future Cascadia earthquake and tsunami. The film delves into individual, local, and state preparedness efforts, emphasizing that everyone will become an involuntary emergency responder in the aftermath of such a catastrophic event. The “Big One” looms large — are you ready? The screening will be followed by panel discussion with director Brian Landon and emergency managers featured in the film.

Tickets for this event are free and are available online and in person at the Art House. Please arrive early, as all unclaimed tickets will be released at 2pm on January 26.

This event is co-sponsored by the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, the Oregon Hazards Lab, University of Oregon Safety and Risk Services, and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

This event will provide information about seismic hazards in the Pacific Northwest and how you can prepare for the next earthquake. There have been 43 earthquakes within the last 10,000 years on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, and seismologists know it is only a matter of time before this fault produces another earthquake. The Cascadia Subduction Zone has a 37% chance of producing another M7.0 or greater earthquake in the next 50 years, according to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. This would cause tens of seconds to minutes of strong shaking, with intensity diminishing with distance from the coast, as well as a powerful tsunami. These disasters would cause extensive damage to homes and critical infrastructure and disrupt services like utilities and transportation for weeks or even months

Block diagram of Western Washington and British Columbia, with the Pacific Ocean offshore of them, showing the tectonic context of the region. The Juan de Fuca plate subducts under the North American plate and the Pacific plate spreads away from the Juan de Fuca plate, forming a mid-ocean spreading ridge. The sources of the subduction zone earthquakes are labeled at the plate interface where the Juan de Fuca plate starts to subduct under the North American plate. Deep earthquakes sources are labeled within the subducting plate deeper and further inland under the Puget Sound region. Slightly deeper and more inland than these, melting occurs which gives rise to the Cascade volcanoes on the overriding North American plate. Example crustal fault earthquake sources are labeled inland near the Puget Sound on the ground surface of the block diagram on the North American plate's crust.

We cannot predict earthquakes or control the likelihood that they will occur. But you can control your risk, or the likelihood that you will be hurt or that your property will be damaged. Taking steps to get prepared will ensure that you are warned before a disaster occurs, stay safe while it unfolds, and have access to basic necessities and communication with loved ones after it ends.

Graphic titled "Earthquake Risk Reduction Strategies," and at the bottom of the page there is a message that says "We cannot predict or prevent an earthquake, but earthquake early warning, personal preparedness, and earthquake mitigation can save lives, reduce damage, and speed recovery." There are 9 squares with different strategies and simple line cartoons displaying them. The squares in order say 'Develop a family emergency plan, prepare and organize disaster supplies, secure top-heavy furniture and water heaters to studs, know how to turn ff gas values in the event of a gas leak, catalog belongings and protect yourself financially with earthquake insurance, encourage mitigation policy measures, regularly practice drop-cover-hold on or other situational alternatives, strengthen homes and buildings with seismic retrofits, get alerts from the ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system."

Visit the websites of our emergency preparedness partners to learn more:

You can also learn more about Rumblings: Preparing for Cascadia at rumblingsmovie.com.