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USA Today
2 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
The Big One: Is California 'overdue' for a devastating major earthquake?
The Big One: Is California 'overdue' for a devastating major earthquake? A near-certain disaster looms for California, but there are real things people can do to prepare. Here's what to know about the risks. Show Caption Hide Caption California governor signs emergency declaration after quake California's governor says "we're concerned about damage" from magnitude 7 earthquake." It's the unavoidable series of questions Christine Goulet gets every time she's asked what she does for a living. "When is the next big earthquake coming? Do you know where? When should we get ready?" Goulet, director of the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Science Center in Los Angeles, told USA TODAY. "It's almost without fail once they know I study earthquakes. If I received a dollar every time I'm asked, I'd be rich." Goulet has answers, but she can't predict the future. The ominous truth: The Big One could happen any time, and there's more than one possible "Big One." "It's gonna happen. An earthquake could be in a matter of minutes, the next hour, tomorrow, or in a week from now, we can't predict that precisely at this time. We don't know," Goulet said. "But the point in general is we want and need to prepare for them." 'Swaying back and forth': Magnitude 7 earthquake, aftershocks rock California The most authoritative research on the risk to California was conducted in 2015, but little has changed in the past decade. The state will almost certainly face a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next three decades, the USGS concludes. Some of the most at-risk locations are San Francisco and Los Angeles. California's continuous temblor risk coincides with a huge earthquake brewing along the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of the Pacific Northwest. San Francisco Bay Area faces high chances of getting a Big One With nearly four dozen faults in the region stretching from Napa to Monterey, the San Francisco Bay Area has a 72% chance of a major quake registering 6.7 magnitude or higher by 2043, USGS researchers previously estimated. The findings also indicate that the Bay Area has a 51% chance of experiencing an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 and a 20% chance of measuring a magnitude of 7.5 or higher within that time frame. "The earthquake threat is very real," said Richard Allen, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley and the director of the Berkeley Seismology Lab. "It is a real challenge as we have to take that long-term view, but also not to live our lives in fear." In December, thousands in the Bay Area and across Northern California were worried after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck along a sparsely populated northern coast of California, triggering a tsunami warning across a swath of the West Coast stretching from southern Oregon to San Francisco. Traci Grant, 53, a public relations specialist who felt the quake in San Francisco, told USA TODAY at the time she felt her retrofitted apartment move in slow motion. "It just kept going and going," Grant said. "It was scary and a bit exciting at the same time. It was more of a roll than just shake, shake, shake." Fragile environment: A collapsing glacier destroyed a Swiss village. Is climate change to blame? Less than two hours after the initial quake, some areas experienced 13 different aftershocks, ranging from 5.1 to 3.1, the USGS reported. Two hours after that, at least 39 aftershocks of at least a 2.5 magnitude occured in the region, authorities said. No earthquake-related injuries or major damages were reported. Goulet said if the quake had been directly on land, "the impact would've been more devastating." Goulet said December's quake magnitude conjured up the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906. It was a nearly minute-long 7.9 magnitude quake followed by a fire that burned for three days, destroying thousands of buildings. The San Francisco quake killed an estimated 3,000 people and destroyed roughly 80% of the city. It is known as one of the deadliest in U.S. history. Allen also noted the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake that struck the heart of the Bay Area and killed 30 people. With all the Bay Area faults, Allen said his research shows there's a "two-in-three chance" the Big One could be soon. "We're overdue for a recurrence," Allen said. The last major earthquake in the Bay Area occurred more than a decade ago, when an earthquake rattled Napa Valley in 2014. The 6.0 magnitude quake in Wine Country killed one person and injured 300 people. The incident caused more than $1 billion in damage across Napa and neighboring cities, including Vallejo, California, which took years to rebuild. Then there was the Loma Prieta earthquake that rocked the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989, killing 63 people and injuring nearly 3,800 others. The earthquake disrupted the World Series and damaged the Bay Bridge, Oakland's Cypress Freeway, and swaths of San Francisco. It caused up to $10 billion in damage. "There's this perception that large quakes are frequent, but actually, they are quite rare," Goulet said. "We just don't know when they will happen." Los Angeles is ripe for a Big One as well The Los Angeles area also stands a chance of getting a major earthquake, as there's a 60% chance of a 6.7 magnitude quake within the next 30 years, the USGS said. Additionally, there is also a 46% probability that a 7.0 magnitude earthquake will hit L.A. and a 31% chance a 7.5 magnitude quake will strike during that same period. Allen, the Berkeley seismologist, said Southern California has just as high an earthquake risk compared to its Northern California counterparts. "They face a similar threat, if not higher," Allen said. Goulet added that with Los Angeles and the surrounding areas being so populous (nearly 18.6 million residents according to California Finance Department statistics), there is a high probability for major destruction. She cites the disastrous 6.7 earthquake in Northridge, California, in 1994, which killed 60 people and injured more than 7,000. The devastation also left thousands of buildings and structures collapsed or damaged across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange and San Bernardino counties. Thousands of residents became homeless as the aftermath caused between $13 billion to $20 billion in damages. "The closer an earthquake is to a large population, the greater the impact will be," Goulet said. Goulet also points to a sequence of earthquakes in 2019 in Ridgecrest, California. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the city two days after an initial 6.4 magnitude quake. Goulet was among a USGS on-site team researching the first quake when, surprisingly, the second temblor struck. "It was terrifying," Goulet said. "We were there taking measurements and just as we were finishing our work and planning for the next day, the second one occurred about six miles away from us. That was extremely close." Goulet said she remembers reassuring panicked residents that everything would be okay. "That's why we cannot specifically predict earthquakes, when and where they will occur and how big they will be," Goulet added. "But what we can do is collect all of the research that causes earthquakes and the probabilities, which are called probabilistic seismic hazard analysis." Now what?: Federal database that tracked costly weather disasters no longer being updated How to prepare for an earthquake disaster Huge earthquakes have long been an existential crisis for millions along the West Coast, as described in a 2022 USA TODAY article. But experts said there are real things people can do to help them prepare for a major disaster. If you experience an earthquake, Sarah Minson, a research geophysicist with the USGS's Earthquake Science Center in Mountain View, California, advises not to run. "If you feel shaking, you should drop, cover and hold on to protect yourself," Minson said. "Don't go anywhere. Don't run outside. A huge number of the injuries that occur in earthquakes are people stepping on broken glass or trying to run during the shaking and falling down." Allen, the Berkeley seismologist, recommends that households create an earthquake plan, including where they will meet and possibly have a bag or suitcase ready for at least a couple of days. Residents will at least want a flashlight and a way to charge their phone. They should also be prepared to have access to electricity or water cut off for days or weeks. Here are a few practical tips: When trying to use your phone, text – don't call. In a disaster, text messages are more reliable and strain cell networks less. To power your phone, you can cheaply buy a combination weather radio, flashlight and hand-crank charger to keep your cell running even without power for days. A cash reserve is good to have, USGS seismologist Lucy Jones previously said. You'll want to be able to buy things, even if your credit card doesn't work for a time. Simple things like securing bookshelves can save lives. Downloading an early warning app can give you precious moments to protect yourself in the event of a big quake. Buying earthquake insurance can protect homeowners. And taking part in a yearly drill can help remind you about other easy steps you can take to prepare. Contributing: Elizabeth Wiese and Joel Shannon
Ottawa Citizen
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Powassan Voodoos coach and general manager adds OHL head scout to his duties
Article content Powassan Voodoos head coach Peter Goulet has never been afraid to take on multiple challenges during his hockey career. Goulet is taking on another challenge as the Brantford Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League has named Goulet the club's new head scout. Article content During his 20-plus years of hockey experience, he has worked as an assistant coach with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL, while also taking on the duties of general manager with the Kingston Voyageurs of the OJHL from 2015 to 2017. Article content Article content 'I'm very proud to be joining the Brantford Bulldogs organization and to bring my experience to the club,' said Goulet. Article content Article content 'I am grateful for the opportunity that Spencer Hyman and the Hyman family have extended to me. I'm looking forward to working with Spencer, Justin, and great friend Mike Galati, and the rest of the Brantford Bulldogs staff and scouting staff.' Article content Goulet reinforces that the position will not impact his role with the Powassan Voodoos, who are the OHL affiliate team of the North Bay Battalion. 'I want to assure everyone that I am remaining as Head Coach of the Powassan Voodoos and looking forward to working for both organizations,' stated the Kingston native. Article content Goulet brings with him a long resume having served the last three seasons as the Head Coach of the Powassan Voodoos (where he won an NOJHL Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 season). Article content Article content That resume includes two stints as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Kingston Voyageurs of the OJHL (2006-2009 & 2015-2019), where he won an OJHL Championship in the 2008-09 season and an OJHL Executive of the Year in the 2019-20 season with the Trenton Golden Hawks where he served as General Manager and Head Coach from 2019 to 2022. Goulet additionally won a CCHL Championship with the Nepean Raiders in the 2011-2012 season, also as Head Coach & General Manager.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
New York man charged with assaulting police pleads guilty during bench trial
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A Batavia, New York man who was going on trial Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on charges he assaulted Boardman police last April instead pleaded guilty. Anthony Goulet, 35, was sentenced to six months in the Mahoning County jail by Judge Anthony Donofrio after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and physical control of a vehicle as well as a fifth-degree felony charge of obstructing justice. A fourth-degree felony charge of assault was dismissed. Goulet was to have a jury trial on Monday but opted for a bench trial at the last minute, and the jurors were sent home. He then pleaded guilty. Goulet was charged after township police spotted him Feb. 25, 2024 asleep behind the wheel of a pickup truck behind a Tiffany South hotel with loud music coming from inside the truck. Police tried but initially failed to wake Goulet, reports said. Officers also saw a can of Twisted Tea and other open cans inside the truck. When they opened the driver's side door, an empty can of Twisted Tea fell out, reports said. Goulet refused to turn off the music despite repeated requests by police and was combative, reports said. He also appeared to be visibly drunk, reports said. When officers threatened to hit him with a stun weapon if he did not get out of the truck, Goulet dared police to use it, reports said. He reached for the glove box and was hit twice by the stun weapon, but it had no effect. Officers then grabbed him to get him out of the truck, and Goulet hit one officer with the door and kicked another before they took him out of the truck and got him handcuffed, reports said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bench trial underway for man accused of daring Boardman police to stun him
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — A bench trial is underway in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for a Batavia, N.Y., man accused of fighting with Boardman police. Anthony Goulet, 35, is on trial before Judge Anthony Donofrio on charges of assault, a fourth-degree felony; obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony; operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor. Goulet was charged after township police spotted him in February 2024 asleep behind the wheel of a pickup truck behind a Tiffany South hotel with loud music coming from inside the truck. Police tried but initially failed to wake Goulet, reports said. Officers also saw a can of Twisted Tea and other open cans inside the truck. When they opened the driver's side door, an empty can of Twisted Tea fell out, reports said. Goulet refused to turn off the music despite repeated requests by police and was combative, reports said. He also appeared to be visibly drunk, reports said. When officers threatened to hit him with a stun weapon if he did not get out of the truck, Goulet dared police to use it, reports said. He reached for the glove box and was hit twice by the stun weapon, but it had no effect. Officers then grabbed him to get him out of the truck, and Goulet hit one officer with the door and kicked another before they took him out of the truck and got him handcuffed, reports said. Jurors were summoned to hear the case but were sent home after Goulet opted to have the case heard from the bench. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wapakoneta Walmart celebrates 20 years
Apr. 11—WAPAKONETA — It all began in 2005 when Walmart, 1257 Bellefonatine Ave., Wapakoneta, opened its doors to the community. Two decades later, the store manager, employees and community celebrated a significant milestone during an event Friday at the store. "It means so much to me and to have all the associates that have been with us for 20 years and to be in this community," store manager Gerry Goulet said in an interview. Goulet began as a store manager in Lima and relocated multiple times, including to Cleveland and Mansfield, before finding his way back home. It all lined up for Goulet to return to his stomping grounds. "My wife's from Waynesfield, I graduated from Bath up in Lima, so it was a perfect fit for us to come back and be close with family again," Goulet said. Goulet's favorite part about his job is working with the associates. "We have 257 associates in the store right now and they're just good people to work with," he said. "They really do take care of each other." Wapakoneta Mayor Daniel Lee celebrated the many employees in attendance during Friday's celebration. "I'd like to thank you for all that you do for all your hard work," Lee said, "making sure the shelves are stacked and making sure the floors are clean." Lee's favorite memories of Walmart include the community showing up for Black Friday shopping. "It wasn't neccesairily about the deal; it was about the community," Lee said. "We need these third spaces that we can come together and see people." Throughout its two decades in operation, the Wapakoneta Walmart store has prioritized giving back to the community. "Just through grants, we've been able to give $175,000 (since opening)," Goulet said. Walmart has also participated in Fight Hunger by donating meals with the West Ohio Food Bank. "I can only go back 10 years, but we've been able to help donate 662,000 pounds of food. That's 57,000 meals," Goulet said. The store also announced a $3,000 donation to the Wapakoneta Police Department for its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351 Featured Local Savings
