Dr. Brian Atwater, a renowned researcher on Pacific Northwest earthquake and tsunami hazards, will discuss how a magnitude 9 earthquake could impact our area during this Tuesday’s (March 15) disaster preparedness event at Edmonds Community College.

A U.S. Geological Survey scientist based out of the University of Washington, Atwater will talk about his research, which shows that Japanese historians discovered the exact date and approximate size of a North American earthquake that occurred a century before Lewis and Clark.

According to Atwater, North American geologists and tree-ring scientists anchored the story of this earthquake with evidence from bays and river mouths in southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. The combined findings help guide efforts to prepare for earthquakes and tsunamis in the Cascadia region, said Atwater, who will talk about the implications of his work on disaster preparedness during the March 15 event.

The mission of the inaugural “Count Me In When Disaster Strikes” event, set for 6:30-8:30 p.m., is to start a conversation about what it means to be prepared. First responders will lay the groundwork, providing simple steps that attendees can take to become disaster-ready — and information that can be shared with families, neighbors and co-workers.

Atwater’s presentation will be from 7-8 p.m. Both before and after the presentation — from 6:30-7 p.m. and again from 8-8:30 p.m. — those attending can visit information booths focused on disaster preparedness. Citizens will also be invited to pinpoint where they live on a giant South Snohomish County map to aid in neighborhood preparedness efforts.

The event, to be held at Woodway Hall, Room 202, on the Edmonds Community College campus, is co-sponsored by Snohomish County Fire District 1, the Disastrr Medicine Project, the Lynnwood Fire Department, Edmonds Community College and the My Neighborhood News Network (Lynnwood Today, MLTnews and My Edmonds News). It’s free, but registration is requested at the following link: https://bit.ly/SnoCoDisaster.