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What Really Happens to the Space Needle in an Earthquake

Speculation abounded when Charles posted about a recent study showing what would happen to Seattle if a 9.0 quake hit us. The Space Needle was called out as an icon that wouldn't go down. Seattlest's dad is the resident earthquake-and-volcanoes disaster geologist in the family, so we asked for the truth. We were told to consult the disaster flick 10.5, a made for TV turd movie starring Kim Delany (you know, from CSI: Miami, or Law and Order, or, gasp, the OC!). It opens with an Extreme! urban mountain biker evading the quake (because you know, earthquakes chase people--but he was wearing a helmet, safety first!), and ultimately the Needle. Dad uses this clip as a joking intro to a University of Utah disaster course, where the students model disasters like a 9.0 quake hitting Seattle, or a sudden lahar wiping out Orting (where our in-laws live, har). Check it out for yourself:

As for the repercussions of a 9+ quake hitting Seattle? Dad says: "Yeah, you're fucked."

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By Courtney in on February 27, 2008 8:30 AM

Comments [rss]

  • Jack

    Touche, Charles. Touche.

  • brappy

    Space Needle collapses in massive earthquake, destroying Downtown Vancouver.

  • hovester

    The viaduct held up nicely, though...

  • Weazul

    There was a sequel? *runs, neh.. dashes to netflix*

  • Charles Redell

    Rad! Not only was my thesis ("We're all fucked") backed up by an expert, we got to see the completely awesome clip!



    Jack- I think the lesson here is that we should ALL mountain bike. How else are we gonna get away from the earthquake?

  • partyfernandez

    don't forget, this movie was so good, it had a SEQUEL - 10.5: Apocalypse!!!

  • Jack

    This is why I don't go mountain biking. Too dangerous.

  • It's a shame that the turd's, er, movie's director disabled comments on YouTube. On the other hand, maybe it's just as well...

  • Why was that woman still in bed? How lazy is she?





    I had no idea earthquakes were that cool, linear, and slowly trackable. Whatever that thing was in 2001 was nothing like this. I feel cheated.

  • It's a shame that the turd's, er, movie's director disabled comments on YouTube. On the other hand, maybe it's just as well...

  • MvB

    Thanks for this -- I had forgotten how truly annoying the camera work on this "movie" was. I like how all the damage the earthquake does happens sequentially, following the path of the extreme biker dude. That's good to know! If you keep moving, stuff only falls *behind* you.

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