Sen. Maria Cantwell's earthquake resilience bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The bill is aimed at helping earthquake-prone communities to better prepare for a natural disaster.
"Earthquakes are inevitable, so it's critical that we do all we can to prepare," Sen. Cantwell said. "This legislation will help save lives and protect property in the Pacific Northwest and other areas prone to seismic disaster."
The legislation improves upon earthquake warning systems by removing outdated language related to quake prediction and emphasizes continued development of warning system. It also directs FEMA to implement a grant program to assist states with incorporating earthquakes in their hazard programs, directs the completion of an assessment of the nation's earthquake risk reduction progress, and requires the production of a set of maps that show active faults and areas susceptible to liquefaction and other hazards, such as landslides.
Additionally, the legislation is meant to eventually lead to improved sharing of information between agencies, and provide clear direction to the federal agencies that oversee the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, which was created to lead the effort in reducing the impact of devastating quakes.
The Puget Sound region is impacted by the Seattle and South Whidbey faults, along with the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which runs off the coast from northern California to British Columbia and could produce a magnitude 9 earthquake. Washington state faces one of the highest risks of a large and damaging earthquakes in the U.S.