Shaky Ground from KHSU

No matter your physical abilities, Dr. Lori Dengler offers up some preparedness and safety tips.

Lori Dengler discusses the autumn earthquake and tsunami that devasted parts of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

The Great ShakeOut earthquake drill is coming up on Thursday, October 18th. On this episode of Shaky Ground , Dr. Lori Dengler encourages us all to take part in this important preparedness excercise. For more preparedness information, click here .

The next earthquake is likely to happen when you least expect it. Relatively infrequent events are hard to plan for. Geologist Lori Dengler advises making preparedness a high priority. Make a habit of checking up on your supplies of water, food, batteries and medical supplies.

Following the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan, a small boat belonging to Takata High School in Rikuzentakata was swept out to sea. It reached the shores of Crescent City two years later. Del Norte High School students cleaned the boat and returned it to Takata High School. That was the start of a relationship between the two schools - and ultimately the two cities. Crescent City and Rikuzentakata have now formally established a sister city relationship.

How will we know a tsunami may be coming? Other than feeling the ground shake, we rely on tsunami warning centers to alert us about potential risk. Dr. Lori Dengler explains the process for accessing and communicating a tsunami hazard.

When an earthquake happens, responding appropriately and efficiently will save lives.

Abby Wutzler, from Wellington New Zealand, was vacationing in Samoa on September 29, 2009 when she noticed the ocean was withdrawing. She had also been taught about the natural warning signs of a tsunami in school and ran up and down the beach yelling that a tsunami was coming. Many tourists credit Abby’s warning with saving their lives.

Moisés Molina was on duty in the Chilean coastal resort town of Iloca when the ground started shaking in the early morning hours of February 27, 2011. He was not from the coast but he had seen the tsunami evacuation signs posted in the town and when he saw the ocean change character, he realized it was time to evacuate. He coordinated his police staff and successfully notified everyone, including unsuspecting campers, to evacuate. Thanks to his efforts, no one in Iloca died.

Dr. Lori Dengler takes on the mistaken term "tidal wave" when referring to a tsunami.

Dr. Lori Dengler gives us a primer for the science of tectonics.

Aveao Faausu Fonoti, Mayor of Amanave, shows the bullhorn he used on the morning of September 29, 2009 to notify the residents of his village in American Samoa. He had attended a workshop sponsored by the Samoan Affairs Office for mayors about tsunamis only a few weeks beforehand and remembered that ground shaking was a natural warning. He ran through the village blowing the bullhorn and alerting residents to the danger. Although 80% of the buildings in his village were destroyed, no one died and no one was seriously injured.

In the early morning hours of February 27, 2010, Martina Marturana felt a slight tremor that lasted a long time. The 12-year-old lived on Robinson Crusoe Island, 325 miles off the coast of central Chile. She looked out the window and noticed the boats in the harbor moving in an unusual way, and ran to ring an alarm bell in the town square. Eight people died in her village but she is credited with saving over 600!

Geologist Lori Dengler says a Tsunami Communications Test is coming. On the morning of March 28th, folks will encounter alert tones, texts and other messages announcing the test. This is a preparedness effort for a tsunami coming from afar. To learn about receiving emergency alert notifications, click here .

On December 26, 2004, Tilly Smith was on vacation in Thailand with her family. Thanks to her school lessons, Tilly helped save many lives by recognizing the signs of an oncoming tsunami.

Kamaishi junior high students saved themselves and many others during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Geologist Lori Dengler highlights the students and preparedness drills that saved many lives.

Communication is key. This segment of Shaky Ground celebrates the good work of Radio Bio Bio during a massive Chilean earthquake.

On this segment of Shaky Ground , Geologist Lori Dengler takes on tales of earthquakes swallowing up hapless critters.

Beautiful walks along the beach are possible any time of the year on the northcoast. Lori Dengler encourages us to be mindful of the unexpected "sneaker wave"... Lori discusses a bit about the science of these surprising occurrences among rather predictable sets of waves.

The deadliest earthquake of 2017 took place along the Iran-Iraq border earlier this month. Geologist Lori Dengler discusses the tectonics - and politics - of the region.