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Hawaiʻi’s long history of earthquakes and safety measures that residents can take will be discussed in a public presentation at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. in the Science and Technology Building Room 108.

Paul Okubo, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, will speak about Hawaiʻi’s ‘Big’ Earthquakes.” According to Okubo, while Hawaiʻi Island experiences more seismicity that other Hawaiian islands, the exposure to earthquake risk spans the entire State of Hawaiʻi. As a recent example, he notes that the October 2006 magnitude 6.7 and 6.0 earthquakes, located in West Hawaiʻi, caused $200 million in damages on the islands of Hawaiʻi and Maui, as well as an extended power outage on Oʻahu.

Okubo will present an overview of earthquakes in Hawaiʻi, including current theories on why they occur. He will also talk about the “Great Hawaiʻi ShakeOut”, an upcoming earthquake and awareness and preparedness event, and what people can do to protect themselves.

For more information about the presentation, visit the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website or call 967-8844.

A University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo news release

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