Earthquake Simulation: Alaskan Way Viaduct

Editor-in-Chief

I was in the both the Loma Prieta earthquake in the SF Bay Area in 1989 (6.9 on the MMS) and in the Nisqually earthquake in Seattle in 2001 (6.8 on the MMS) and have to say the Seattle quake felt a lot more violent to me (I was roughly the same distance to the epicenter in each). So needless to say, I take earthquakes seriously. Not to mention the fact that just this weekend I had fish and chips right next to the red barn in the middle of this video. Anyway, we’re having a contentious mayoral race in Seattle right now and the two candidates are arguing about what to do with the viaduct. And then someone puts out this video showing some damage very reminiscent of the Interstate 880/Cypress Viaduct collapse during the Loma Prieta quake. Hmmm, coincidence? Anyway, watch and enjoy–those of you who don’t live in earthquake land (though I’ll take a quake over a hurricane or tornado any day).

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Posted at 11:52 am in Seattle

Comments

Michael Berenis
Nov 2, 2009 at 9:15 am

Eh I’ll stick with Hurricanes LOL. They are fun to drive in. Talk about pushing my AWD to the limit! It’s fun to hit the trails as the storm blows in.

GTwildfire
Oct 30, 2009 at 10:58 pm

Must’ve been a blast modeling all that infrastructure for the animation. Been there, done that. They did some awesome work.
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Seattle was recently dubbed one of the 10 safest places to live. I guess whoever made that list didn’t factor in seismic or meterological vulnerability. They were thinking in terms of crime.
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I’ve only experience the ground moving once here on the East Coast back in the ’70s. Wasn’t much, probably a minor tremor for the west coast, but I never want to even experience that again.

retroman
Oct 30, 2009 at 3:40 pm

And I’ll take my tornadoes!!! At least I have a chance staying out of it’s path. I’d hate having to worry about the earth dropping out under my feet and buldings randomly falling on my head, not to forget the fires and more extensive power and water outages. Have to hand it to you, Rob. I don’t know what makes West Coast people rebuild like you do… Cool vid by the way.

TheBoz2
Oct 30, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Wow that is really cool.