Earthquake Fault Maps in Seattle and Washington State

Earthquake Fault Map — Puget Sound

This map shows the primary earthquake faults in the Puget Sound and other less prominent faults. This map is useful in showing the location and approximate length of faults but does not provide the impact an earthquake from a fault could have on the area surrounding. In the next section we will provide the impact studies conducted on each of the faults in Washington State.

This map shows the following faults: Devils Mountain, Utsalady Point, Strawberry Point, Mount Vernon Fault, Little River, Sequim, Southern Whidbey Island Fault, Cherry Creek, Tokul Creek,Rattlesnake Mountain Fault Zone, Lofall, Canyon River, Frigid Creek, Saddle Mountain faults, Hood Canal, Seattle Fault Zone, Tahuya Fault, Tacoma Fault Zone, East Passage, White River, Olympia Structure, Scammon Creek, Doty, Western Rainier Zone, Saint Helens Zone, and Olympic-Wallowa Lineament.

Top Twenty Earthquake Faults in Washington State

The Washington State of Department of Natural Resources conducted seismic research into the impact of the top twenty faults in Washington using a software program called Hazus. The program was developed by FEMA to assist in estimating the potential losses from earthquakes and other natural disasters. Government officials, business leaders, and citizens can use such estimates to design risk reduction activities and plan for emergency response and recovery.

Earthquake Fault Zones in Washington

The following earthquake faults in Washington State are ranked by the potential economic loss the particular earthquake scenario will have on the affected area. Other data included is the number of buildings damaged, fatalities, and injuries.

Seattle Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.2 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 487,382 Fatalities: 183 – 1,049 Injuries: 5,038 – 16,628 Economic Loss: $30,915,000,000
Cascadia Subduction Fault Earthquake Scenario: 9.0 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 538,446 Fatalities: 62 – 288 Injuries: 3,404 – 7,246 Economic Loss: $21,000,000,000
South Whidbey Island Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.4 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 320,776 Fatalities: 90 – 432 Injuries: 2,920 – 7,361 Economic Loss: $15,590,000,000
SeaTac Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.2 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 375,954 Fatalities: 16 – 123 Injuries: 1,394 – 3,404 Economic Loss: $13,400,000,000
Tacoma Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.1 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 307,217 Fatalities: 64 – 328 Injuries: 2,350 – 5,742 Economic Loss: $13,150,000,000
Nisqually Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.2 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 268,047 Fatalities: 6 – 53 Injuries: 849 – 1,713 Economic Loss: $8,760,000,000
Cascadia North Fault Earthquake Scenario: 8.3 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 154,359 Fatalities: 9 – 39 Injuries: 739 – 1,404 Economic Loss: $5,100,000,000
Devils Mountain West Earthquake Scenario: 7.4 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 75,786 Fatalities: 15 – 61 Injuries: 555 – 1,058 Economic Loss: $3,370,000,000
Devils Mountain Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.1 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 39,631 Fatalities: 5 – 9 Injuries: 269 – 333 Economic Loss: $1,330,000,000
Hite – Walla Walla Fault Earthquake Scenario: 6.8 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 18,705 Fatalities: 21 – 52 Injuries: 418 – 795 Economic Loss: $1,460,000,000
Saddle Mountain Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.35 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 39,631 Fatalities: 5 – 9 Injuries: 269 – 333 Economic Loss: $1,330,000,000
Canyon River Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.4 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 41,259 Fatalities: 0 – 3 Injuries: 81 – 108 Economic Loss: $1,200,000,000
Lake Creek Fault Earthquake Scenario: 6.8 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 8,541 Fatalities: 3 – 13 Injuries: 128 – 240 Economic Loss: $1,000,000,000
Mill Creek Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.1 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 22,277 Fatalities: 2 – 6 Injuries: 146 – 185 Economic Loss: $687,000,000
Olympia Fault Earthquake Scenario: 5.7 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 21,980 Fatalities: 0 – 1 Injuries: 60 – 93 Economic Loss: $639,000,000
Chelan Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.2 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 14,138 Fatalities: 0 – 2 Injuries: 34 – 42 Economic Loss: $584,000,000
Cle Elum Fault Earthquake Scenario: 6.8 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 14,618 Fatalities: 0 – 1 Injuries: 47 – 55 Economic Loss: $499,000,000
Spokane Fault Earthquake Scenario: 5.5 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 15,594 Fatalities: 0 – 1 Injuries: 34 – 36 Economic Loss: $450,000,000
St. Helens Fault Earthquake Scenario: 7.0 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 12,766 Fatalities: 0 – 1 Injuries: 22 – 25 Economic Loss: $360,000,000
Boulder Creek Fault Earthquake Scenario: 6.8 Magnitude Buildings Damaged: 11,635 Fatalities: 0 – 1 Injuries: 13 – 16 Economic Loss: $229,000,000

Earthquake Insurance

With more than twenty faults, the risk of an earthquake powerful enough to cause serious damage to your home is a possibility that should be mitigated. Consider earthquake insurance in Seattle today!