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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Whitewater park with 'wave shaper' to open in Bend ... Colorado governor supports LNG project ... Fire danger rises to 'extreme' on Tuesday ... Whitewater park with 'wave shaper' to open in Bend ... Colorado governor supports LNG project ... Fire danger rises to 'extreme' on Tuesday ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Valley could see magnitude-6 quakes if plate slips Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News As I understand it, there's the potential for a large earthquake centered about 80 miles off the Oregon Coast that could reach about 9.0 on the Richter scale. What is the expected effect on the Medford area on the Richter scale? — Dick E., Medford Well, Dick, the Rogue Valley wouldn't get hit as hard as the South Coast — especially when it comes to the resulting tsunamis — but we'd still feel a bit of hurt from the earthquakes. Southern Oregon University researchers say that while the coast would get the worst of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, residents in the greater Medford area would still likely feel shaking around the 6.0 mark. While an earthquake of the latter magnitude might not cause much damage in rural parts of the county, its effects on the more heavily developed parts of the area could be devastating. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco, for example, measured 6.9 on the Richter scale and claimed more than 60 lives across Northern California. In case you missed it, Dick, Jan. 26, 2015, was the anniversary of the last major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake that shook the Pacific Northwest, occurring 315 years ago. "Scientists believe Oregon is in the average window of time during which another massive, destructive quake could occur," said Althea Rizzo, Geologic Hazards Program coordinator, a few days before the anniversary. Rizzo and other earthquake experts have been working hard in recent years to educate people about how to be prepared for the next large earthquake. For information, check out "Living on Shaky Ground: How to Survive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Oregon" published by Oregon Emergency Management; and visit Ready.gov for resources on how you can be prepared before, during and after an earthquake. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501