Preparing for the next big earthquake

The next time the Cascadia fault along the West Coast unleashes a magnitude-9 earthquake, the dams in east Skagit County could fail, dozens of bridges and overpasses could collapse on major roadways, and utilities could shut down.

The region's earthquake risks have been known for years, but gained additional attention following a July 2015 article in the New Yorker magazine that pointed out the devastation that could be caused by a severe quake.