QuakeFeed Status Update + How to Help Hurricane Melissa Recovery

In this episode, we begin with Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall in Jamaica on October 28th as a Category 5 storm and then tore a path of destruction through the Caribbean. If you would like to help support disaster response and recover, please visit Charity Navigator. There you can find highly rated organizations that are helping those impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Then we continue with a QuakeFeed status update. We share our plan and timeline for the next few QuakeFed app updates – including how and when we plan to support iOS 26. We also talk about new content we creating, such as the On This Day in Earthquake History series. We close with a few words about why we think learning about historical earthquake events is important and helpful. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome & Episode Overview 00:15 – Hurricane Melissa Timeline 00:45 – Melissa's Impact 01:25 – How to Support Melissa Recovery 01:49 – SK Calls Linda Rusty & Robotic 02:18 – What We've Been Working On 02:46 – Plan & Timeline for QuakeFeed Updates 04:03 – Cringey Joke 04:28 – New Help Docs & OTD EQ Series Content 05:09 – Why Learning About Historical EQ is Important 06:21 - Closing   🌀 How to Help Hurricane Melissa Recovery Discover highly rated charities providing relief and recovery to those impacted by Hurricane Melissa on Charity Navigator. https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/where-to-give/hurricane-melissa-2025/   📚 Learn More About Hurricane Melissa 🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: Hurricane Melissa https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/hurricane-melissa-makes-landfall 🔗 Wikipedia: Hurricane Melissa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Melissa 🔗 NOAA National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/   ▶️ Learn More About iOS 26 and Liquid Glass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGztGfRujSE   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Want to also view Hurricanes on the QuakeFeed map? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – it's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

On July 30, 2025, at 11:24 a.m. local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off the east coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, generating a Pacific-wide tsunami. Although this powerful earthquake was tied as the sixth strongest ever recorded by seismometers, the tsunami was weaker than initially feared, and the impact in terms of loss of life was minimal. In this episode, we examine how effective planning and warning systems helped minimize casualties. We also debunk a myth about a "parade of erupting volcanoes" and share essential tsunami safety information – all while doing our best to pronounce some beautifully complicated place names.   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome message 00:15 – 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula earthquake 00:33 – Kuril-Kamchatka Trench 00:40 – Shaking intensity & impact 01:00 – Pacific-wide tsunami 01:22 – Tsunami less destructive than feared 01:56 – Lessons from 1952 earthquake 02:24 – Relocation of Severo-Kurilsk 02:37 – Planning + warnings helped save lives 02:48 – Parade of erupting volcanoes? 03:10 – Krasheninnikov eruption 03:22 – Four ongoing eruptions 03:31 – Multiple eruptions not unusual for Kamchatka 04:00 – Subduction zone earthquakes can trigger eruptions 04:33 – Tsunami safety information 05:06 – Natural warning signs 05:45 – 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami: Tilly Smith story 06:51 – Preparedness + education saves lives 06:59 – Our "why" 07:05 – More tsunami safety tips 07:44 – Closing message   📚 Learn More 🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/2025-kamchatka-earthquake 🔗 Cal OES: Tsunami Preparedness https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/planning-preparedness-prevention/seismic-hazards/tsunami-preparedness/ 🔗 NOAA / NWS: Tsunami Safety https://www.weather.gov/media/owlie/TsunamiSafety-OnePager-02-28-2019.pdf   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Want to view the 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake on an interactive map that shows the MMI Contours and the Erupting Volcanoes? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – it's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

QuakeFeed v6.5.7 available now in the App Store. We fixed a bug in the Filter by Alert Settings feature. This episode gives a quick overview of this feature and how to adjust data source and filter settings in QuakeFeed. Links to "how to" videos also included below. Big thank you to the member of the QuakeFeed community who brought this bug to our attention!   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – QuakeFeed v6.5.7 00:32 – Filter by Alerts 00:59 – Step-by-step Instructions 01:36 – Data Source and Filters 01:47 – Alert Settings 02:20 – How to Send Support Request   📚 Learn More ▶️ How To Use the Earthquake Data Source and Filters (v6.1.0 and higher) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6MWT_HMegM ▶️ How To Set-up Regional Alerts (v6.0.0 and higher) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBW2_i6JUD8 ▶️ How To Set-up Nearby Alerts (v6.0.0 and higher) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE6XSW_9NC0   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – it's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed   🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

On July 28, 1976, at 3:42 AM, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the sleeping city of Tangshan, China. The official death toll was 242,469, making it the deadliest earthquake since modern seismic recording began. Why was this earthquake so deadly? Learn about six factors that came together to create a worst case scenario.   ⏱️ Timestamps INTRODUCTION 00:00 – Welcome 00:18 – Topic Introduction 1976 EARTHQUAKE FACTS 00:35 –Tangshan in 1976 00:58 –Date, time, magnitude 01:21 – Deaths and Damage WHY WAS THIS EARTHQUAKE SO DEADLY? 01:49 – Early morning; people were sleeping 02:20 – What is a survivable void? 02:56 – Shallow earthquake in urban area 03:18 – MMI X and XI shaking intensity 03:47 – Seismic hazard underestimated 04:07 – Unreinforced masonry buildings 04:35 – Sedimentary soils 05:07 – Liquefaction 05:23 – Damage hampered rescue operations 05:54 – Medical infrastructure destroyed 06:06 – Political turmoil 06:22 – International assistance declined TURNING POINT IN SEISMIC SAFETY 06:55 – National seismic code in 1978 07:11 – Tangshan's reconstruction 07:27 – Tangshan today CLOSING 07:39 – Tangshan earthquake memorial 08:37 – Closing Message   📚 Learn More 🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 1976 Tangshan Earthquake https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/1976-tangshan-earthquake 🔗 Wikipedia: 1976 Tangshan Earthquake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Tangshan_earthquake ▶️ Original B/W Footage of the Aftermath of the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGom7kU7b7A   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Want to view the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake on an interactive map that shows the epicenter and shaking intensity? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including Historical Earthquakes. It's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Quick update from QuakeFeed HQ regarding v6.5.6 (available July 21, 2025). How to close the "On This Day in Earthquake History" info panel. Why it's helpful to learn about historical earthquakes. Feature freeze in preparation for iOS 26. (Learn more here.)   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – QuakeFeed v6.5.6 01:03 – Why learn about historical earthquakes? 01:42 – Planned OTD for August 02:04 – Feature freeze; prep for iOS 26   📚 Learn More 🎙️ QuakeFeed Podcast: v6.5.5 Update + Safety Tips https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/earthquake/id1562704664?i=1000714749658 🔗 Wikipedia: iOS 26 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOS_26   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Want to view historical earthquakes on an interactive map that shows the epicenter, shaking intensity, and faults? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – it's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

On July 4, 2019, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near Ridgecrest, a town in California's Mojave Desert. Thirty-four hours later, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit the same area – the largest to strike California in 20 years. Shaking was felt across California, Arizona, and Nevada. The earthquakes killed one person, injured 25, and caused surface ruptures stretching 30 miles with ground displacement exceeding six feet. Total damage exceeded $5.3 billion. Learn about the impact of the Ridgecrest earthquakes and how they became a case study for understanding earthquake cascades and stress transfer between intersecting fault systems. We'll also share an important message about safety and preparedness.   ⏱️ Timestamps INTRODUCTION 00:00 – Welcome Message 00:12 – Topic Introduction 2019 EARTHQUAKE FACTS 00:30 – About Ridgecrest 01:01 – The Earthquake Sequence 01:41 – One Death and 25 Injuries 02:03 – Damage and Economic Impact 02:35 – Surface Rupture SCIENTIFIC LESSONS 03:05  – Two Perpendicular Fault Systems 03:24  – L-Shaped Rupture Pattern 03:51  – Aftershocks 04:10  – Rethinking Seismic Hazards OUR EXPERIENCE 04:31 – Did We Feel It? 05:34 – QuakeFeed Emails 06:01 – Reaffirming our "Why" 06:24 – Preparedness Call to Action CLOSING 06:45 – Closing Message 07:10 – Drop, Cover, Hold On Instructions   📚 Learn More 🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/2019-ridgecrest-earthquake-sequence 🎙️ QuakeFeed Podcast: Drop, Cover, and Hold On https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drop-cover-hold-on/id1562704664?i=1000520234015 🔗 CALFIRE: Fireworks Safety https://readyforwildfire.org/prevent-wildfire/fireworks-safety/   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Want to view the 2019 Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence on an interactive map that shows the epicenter, shaking intensity, and faults? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including Historical Earthquakes. It's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

On June 29, 1925, at 6:44 a.m., a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Santa Barbara, California, killing 13 people and damaging 85% of its downtown buildings. Three brave and quick-thinking utility workers immediately cut power and gas to the entire city, preventing widespread fires, saving lives, and shielding Santa Barbara from further destruction.  This gave engineers and seismologists a rare laboratory for studying seismic damage without fire obscuring the destruction patterns. What they learned led Santa Barbara to adopt comprehensive seismic building codes. But the city didn't just build back safer. By mandating both earthquake-resistant construction and a unified Spanish Colonial Revival style, Santa Barbara was reborn as an iconic coastal destination.   ⏱️ Timestamps INTRODUCTION 00:00 – Welcome 00:20 – 100th Anniversary of 1925 quake 1925 EARTHQUAKE FACTS 00:35 – Date, time, magnitude 00:46 – Deaths and Damage 01:13 – Economic Impact 01:28 – No Widespread Fires 02:26  – Lessons Learned from the Damage 03:04  – Rebuilding Safer and Beautifully SANTA BARBARA TODAY 03:49 – Iconic Coastal City 04:14 – Santa Barbara County Courthouse CLOSING 04:47 – Closing Message   📚 Learn More 🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 1925 Santa Barbara Earthquake https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/1925-santa-barbara-earthquake   📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed and safe – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including Historical Earthquakes. It's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.   🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed   🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.   🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A quick update from QuakeFeed HQ! Here's what we've been working on: "On This Day in Earthquake History" — now available as Substack posts and podcast episodes. QuakeFeed v6.5.5 is out now! This update includes links to our "On This Day" Substack and podcast content. Preparing for Apple's "Liquid Glass" — a major iOS redesign is coming in September 2025. Learn more here. Plus: A a few quick safety reminders to help you stay prepared. ⏱️ Timestamps INTRODUCTION 00:00 – Welcome 00:10 – What's in this episode NEW CONTENT FROM QUAKEFEED 00:25 – Relaunch of QuakeFeed Podcast 01:02 – QuakeFeed Substack 01:15 – On This Day in Earthquake History 01:35 – Earthquake Safety Tip QUAKEFEED APP UPDATE 02:10 – QuakeFeed v6.5.5 Update 02:45 – Major iOS Redesign: Liquid Glass 03:20 – Preparation for Liquid Glass 03:50 – How to Send a Support Request WILDFIRE SAFETY INFO 04:00 – Wildfire Data Sources 04:45 – Who updates the wildfire databases? 04:55 – New, Fast-Moving Fires: Possible Time Delay 05:32 – Know How to Stay Informed in Emergencies 05:55 – Sign-up for Local Emergency Alert System CLOSING 06:20 – Closing Message 📚 Learn More ▶️ Apple: Introducing Liquid Glass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGztGfRujSE 📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed and safe – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including Historical Earthquakes. It's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers. 🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared. 🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Join Linda, James, and Sequoya as they honor dads everywhere with earthquake-themed dad jokes – we're talking truly groan-worthy puns about tectonic plates, fault lines, and confused pets trying to figure out earthquake drills. This special Father's Day episode pays tribute to James's late father, a legendary math teacher and swim coach who brought humor into everything he did. For a limited time, we've also replaced the ads in QuakeFeed's earthquake list with these same dad jokes – and many more! Because while earthquakes are serious business, your earthquake app doesn't have to feel grim all the time. Download QuakeFeed from the iOS App Store to track earthquakes, wildfires, and volcanoes – now also with a side of family humor. Psst... Not a dad joke fan? QuakeFeed Premium subscribers can turn them off and get a completely joke-free experience. Psst again... Already a Premium subscriber but you actually WANT the jokes? Don't worry – just turn them on in QuakeFeed's settings menu!

Hosts Linda and Sequoya explore the catastrophic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens through the contrasting stories of two men: 83-year-old lodge owner Harry R. Truman, who stubbornly refused evacuation despite repeated warnings, and 30-year-old volcanologist David A. Johnston, whose final radio transmission—"Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!"—immortalized his ultimate sacrifice for public safety. Through vivid storytelling, the podcast chronicles the dramatic sequence of events from the first warning signs to the fateful morning of May 18, 1980, when a magnitude 5.1 earthquake triggered history's largest recorded landslide and an unexpected lateral blast. Truman, paradoxically both dismissive of the danger and accepting of his fate, chose to remain with the mountain that had shaped his identity. Johnston, though positioned at what was considered a safe observation distance, tragically found himself directly in the eruption's path. Beyond these personal stories, the episode captures remarkable survivor accounts, details the eruption's devastating economic consequences, and explores how this disaster fundamentally changed our scientific understanding of volcanic hazards and revolutionized monitoring approaches worldwide. ⏱️ Timestamps INTRODUCTION: 00:00 – Welcome 01:50 – Why we made this episode HISTORICAL CONTEXT: 02:50 – "Mount Fuji of the Pacific Northwest" 04:00 – Mount St. Helens Wakes Up THE TWO MEN 06:40 – Meet Harry R. Truman 08:30 –Truman Refuses to Evacuate 11:20 – Meet David A. Johnston 12:15 – Johnston's Bravery 13:00 – Red Zone Established MAY 18, 1980 ERUPTION SEQUENCE 13:45 – Earthquake, Landslide, Lateral Blast 15:35 – Johnston's Last Radio Transmission 16:00 – Truman's Fate 16:35 – Gerry Martin's Radio Transmission 17:20 – Photos of Landslide and Lateral Blast 19:00 – Plinian Eruption 19:50 – Lahars AFTERMATH & IMPACT 21:05 – Economic Impact 21:30 – Advances in Scientific Understanding 22:10 – Public Safety Lessons CLOSING 23:20 – Closing Thoughts 24:25 – What's Next 📚 Learn More ▶️ Mount St. Helens – Full Playlist on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO683wv5Jx1EmLc_-N7vTUyw8mtNJNgJP ▶️ Gary Rosenquist Sequence – AI Animated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNlP9TGZOMI ▶️ Remembering David Johnston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg2rufseJ_w 🔗 From Quiet Mountain to Cataclysm https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/from-quiet-mountain-to-cataclysm 📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts Stay informed and safe – get the QuakeFeed app now: https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266 Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including the Erupting Volcanoes map layer. It's free for 30-days for first-time subscribers. 🌍 Connect with Us Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed 🙌 Support the Show If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared. 🎵 Music By Soularflair Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/