Earthquakes are the most serious hazard facing Seattle. Unlike other potentially catastrophic hazards, Seattle has had and will experience powerful earthquakes. ... Crustal or Shallow Quakes occur in the North American plate at 0-30 km near the crust's surface along faults.

Does Seattle get earthquakes often?

A megathrust earthquake occurred in 1700 and the Seattle Fault produced a powerful earthquake 1,100 years ago, but neither type has occurred in Seattle in modern times. With 3 -4 events in the past 3,000 years, the very rough estimate is that the Seattle Fault is active about every 1,000 years.

Is Seattle on a fault line?

The Seattle Fault is a zone of multiple shallow east–west thrust faults that cross the Puget Sound Lowland and through Seattle (in the U.S. state of Washington) in the vicinity of Interstate Highway 90. ... Extensive research has since shown the Seattle Fault to be part of a regional system of faults.