Federal Cuts Threaten Earthquake Monitoring in Pacific Northwest

SEATTLE — Federal budget cuts could severely affect earthquake monitoring efforts in the Pacific Northwest, a Washington state seismologist warned Friday. Harold Tobin, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) at the University of Washington, expressed concern that ongoing reductions in federal spending are already impacting the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the network’s primary partner in earthquake and volcanic monitoring.

“It’s potentially going to start having an impact, if it continues, on the quality of our monitoring network and our ability to do the kinds of warnings that the public is depending on us to do,” Tobin said during an interview.

The USGS manages the Earthquake Warning System, designed to provide alerts before seismic waves reach populated areas. Residents can use the ShakeAlert app to receive notifications seconds before shaking begins, allowing them time to take cover.

Plans are in place to enhance monitoring by adding underwater seismometers along the West Coast by 2026, which would help track seismic activity occurring on the ocean floor. Additionally, the network monitors volcanic activity at Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, critical for public safety in a region known for its seismic activity.

While Tobin emphasized that monitoring has not yet been compromised, he noted that diminishing federal funds may soon disrupt operations. “Every time they need to order a new part for a station that has gone down, and they need to bring it back up, that’s the potential impact we are going to see if these freezes continue,” he stated.

This concern arises as Washington marks 24 years since the devastating Nisqually earthquake, a 6.8 magnitude quake that caused extensive damage and injuries throughout the Puget Sound region. The quake was pivotal in motivating advancements like the ShakeAlert system. “Now we operate a much bigger, much more sophisticated monitoring system than we did back in 2001,” Tobin noted.

Despite these advancements, the uncertainty surrounding future funding is disconcerting. The PNSN relies on federal grants to maintain its monitoring systems, and Tobin anticipates that cuts could significantly impact operations. “If there’s any interruption, it won’t take long before it becomes a really major budget problem,” he said.

Rick Spinrad, former NOAA Administrator, echoed these concerns. “It will be felt across the country,” he commented, highlighting the broad effects of reduced funding on various sectors, including agriculture, where farmers depend on NOAA for seasonal weather forecasts.

Moreover, cuts to NOAA have already affected the USGS’s ability to perform necessary fieldwork, which is essential in maintaining operational readiness for earthquake detection and monitoring. Tobin explained, “Our whole systems for understanding and getting warnings about natural hazards are coordinated by more than one government agency; NOAA and the USGS in particular are really important to those activities.”

The PNSN continues its commitment to public safety, training the next generation of seismologists at the University of Washington. However, Tobin stressed the importance of federal support in sustaining these education and training efforts. “Most of that work is funded by the federal government, and that’s what’s at risk.”

The situation remains fluid, yet the implications of federal cuts could pose serious challenges to earthquake preparedness in an area known for its seismic risk. As Tobin summarized, “Everybody understands that’s a priority; it’s just a matter of, do we have the resources so that we can keep doing that going into the future?”