SEATTLE, Aug. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Talk of “the Big One” looms large in the Pacific Northwest, where most residents say they expect to experience a major earthquake in their lifetime. Still, the latest PEMCO Insurance Poll reveals a troubling gap: while the threat feels real, only a fraction of households say they’re prepared to weather the disaster.
The poll of Washington and Oregon residents found that 82% of Pacific Northwesters agree: we’ll likely experience a historic earthquake sometime in our lives. More than three-quarters of people (76%) believe the earthquake will have major impacts on our infrastructure, and 58% believe we’ll be without power, water, and electricity for at least one week.
Yet when it comes to readiness, fewer than one in five residents (19%) say they’re “very prepared” for a disaster. In fact, 42% admit that they’re only somewhat prepared, while nearly 39% say they’re not prepared at all.
The …