1) The ongoing hazard or projected hazard must be detected and understood. The size and scope of the hazard is important so that you know who to warn.
2) Then, a warning must be issued that reaches people and organizations so that they can take appropriate protective actions to protect themselves.
3) Perhaps the most important step, is that when appropriately warned, people need to heed the warning and take appropriate precautions.
The seismologists have done their work to identify and quantify the risk--detected the hazard. The media, in this case the Seattle Times, has done a series of articles on the seismic hazards and our collective lack of action as people and institutions--provided the warning. Now it is up to government, business, other institutions, and individuals to take action. It is this last step that is ensuring that even with an appropriate warning, nothing has been done or is being done in Washington state (as a whole) to mitigate the risks that we know exist.
The Seattle Times has one more article in a series of stories which have shared those risks. The latest appearing today in the Seattle Times as a front page story. See, An earthquake worse than the ‘Big One’? Shattered New Zealand city shows danger of Seattle’s fault.
When the devastating earthquake does happen in Seattle the headline should read, "I Told You So!"
