Hi, I guess this article is all over the news and mentions the federal government; so it may come up in your libraries, too : The Really Big One: An earthquake will destroy a sizable portion of the coastal Northwest. The question is when. http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one Here are the information sources available online from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that I disseminate for earthquake inquiries; mostly to show the public what we do and how the government monitors these hazards : ~~~~~~~ To view the earthquake network stations on Earth : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/operations/ ANSS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/anss/ Global: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/operations/network.php?network=GSN National Strong Motion Project : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/nsmp/ ~~~~~~~ Earthquake hazard maps : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/?source=sitenav includes: custom hazards maps: http://geohazards.usgs.gov/hazards/apps/cmaps/ and custom earthquake probability maps for your neighborhood : http://geohazards.usgs.gov/eqprob/2009/index.php ~~~~~~~ Largest Earthquakes in the United States: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/10_largest_us.php The second largest earthquake = the Cascadia Subduction Zone (Pacific Northwest) : USGS: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1700_01_26.php Natural Resources, Canada: http://www.earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/histor/15-19th-eme/1700/1700-eng.php Please note the other large earthquakes in Missouri and South Carolina... USGS Earthquake "Top 10" Lists & Maps : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/ ~~~~~~~ Structural and Geotechnical Arrays : List of buildings, bridges, and dams with seismic instruments, United States : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/monitoring/nsmp/structures/ When I help people that seem scared and(or) concerned to travel within the United States, I show them how many sensors are within buildings, as well as the list of buildings, bridges, and dams that government agencies are monitoring. Center for Engineering Strong Motion Data : http://strongmotioncenter.org/ U.S. Structural and Ground Response Data search : http://strongmotioncenter.org/cgi-bin/CESMD/search1.pl - strong motion station maps, Northern California : http://www.strongmotioncenter.org/LoaderNC.html and Southern California : http://www.strongmotioncenter.org/LoaderSC.html Earthquakes with Strong Motion Records in CESMD : http://strongmotioncenter.org/cgi-bin/CESMD/iqrEventMap.pl How to be prepared for earthquakes : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/preparedness.php ~~~~~~~ *Tectonics* General information : What on Earth is Plate Tectonics? : http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/pltec/ Understanding Plate Motions : http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html Specific Information : Cascadia Subduction Zone: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/crust/cascadia.php USGS reports and journal articles = Cascadia Subduction Zone : http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/search?q=Cascadia+Subduction+Zone USGS reports and journal articles = Juan de Fuca plate : http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/search?q=juan+de+fuca+plate Example USGS publications for outreach : Averting earthquake surprises in the Pacific Northwest, 1995 fact sheet : http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1995/0111/report.pdf USGS earthquake fact sheets online at : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/publications/pubs_factsheets.php ~~~~~~~ There are two types of earthquakes: Tectonic: movement of faults - example: Magmatic: movement of magma - example: Cascades Volcanoes Observatory (CVO) : http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/cvo/ Monitoring Volcano Seismicity: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/activity/methods/seismic/index.php ~~~~~~~ An interesting article about the USGS National Earthquake Information Center here in Colorado: The 24/7 search for killer quakes: Meet the seismologists who work around the clock to pinpoint major earthquakes anywhere on Earth. http://www.nature.com/news/the-24-7-search-for-killer-quakes-1.17914 ~~~~~~~ Archived Congressional Hearings related to earthquakes and volcanoes : Oversight Hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Mission of the U.S. Geological Survey in the President’s FY 2016 Budget Proposal.” http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=398107 Oversight Hearing on "Volcano Hazards: Exploring the National Preparation and Response Strategy” Wednesday, November 19, 2014 1:00 PM http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=397895 Subcommittee on Research and Technology Hearing - A Review of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Jul 29, 2014 10:00am https://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-research-and-technology-hearing-review-national-earthquake-hazards-reduction ~~~~~~~ If anyone in your agency is interested in an instruction presentation on-site here at the Denver Federal Center, I will be starting my outreach program up again this fall after we are finished moving, but I have a ppt that I gave from 2012 on hazards and geology of western US and Canada if you want the pdf... Also, if your agency wants a tour of the USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC), here is the contact information : http://earthquake.usgs.gov/contactus/golden/neic.php I hope that helps and(or) saves you time searching for our USGS products! Enjoy the day! Emily Emily C. Wild Librarian (Physical Scientist) U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Library Denver Federal Center ph: (303) 236-1003 [log in to unmask] USGS Libraries: http://library.usgs.gov Tutorials: http://tinyurl.com/lh3tmua Profile: http://profile.usgs.gov/ecwild