PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Portland is twice as likely to experience an earthquake strong enough to be felt by humans than scientists previously thought, a new study published by the U.S. Geological Survey shows.
The revelation was made possible by a team of scientists who mapped out a more thorough model of the crustal faults located within 50 to 75 miles of Portland. Portland State University earthquake geologist Ashley Streig and her graduate students conducted the research that contributed to the USGS’s “ 2023 Update of the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model ,” which, among other things, documents this new understanding of the region’s fault capabilities.
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“These earthquakes are like the 1993 Scott Mills earthquake, and would be devastating if [they] were to occur on the Portland Hills fault or Gales Creek fault today,” Streig said.
The crustal faults located near the Portland area could produce a quake as powerful as a 7.2, Streig said. However, an earthquake of this size is unlikely in the near future. These faults are estimated to have a 2% chance of producing shaking strong enough to be felt by humans within the next 50 years.