Yesterday, The New Yorker's Kathryn Schulz reported that there is a one-in-10 chance of an enormous 9.0-or-higher earthquake hitting the Pacific Northwest at some point in the next 50 years. Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Salem, and Olympia are all at risk; an estimated 13,000 could die.
To (somewhat) calm the growing panic, The Seattle Times hosted a Reddit AMA with the director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, John Vidale, as well as Debbie Goetz of Seattle's Emergency Management Office and Sandi Doughton, a science writer for the Times. They revealed that, as of right now, the chances of the apocalyptic earthquake striking in 2015 are about one in 300. Which doesn't seem like a lot, but it's actually far more likely than your odds of dying in a car accident (one in 4,000) or dating a supermodel (one in 88,000).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Today's political cartoons - May 12, 2024Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - tips for Mom, worm regards, and more
-
5 brain-busting cartoons about RFK Jr.Cartoons Artists take on candidate suitability, the Kennedy family, and more
-
Right to roam: the battle to access England's green spacesThe Explainer A battle is being fought over access to England's green spaces
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
