A flurry of earthquakes in the Seattle area over the last couple of weeks has some residents asking if that means the "Big One" is on its way.

Why it matters: Scientists say it's not a question of if, but when, the Cascadia subduction zone — a 700-mile offshore fault that runs from Canada to California — unleashes a massive earthquake, triggering a tsunami and spelling one of the worst natural disasters on the continent.

Driving the news: Since Feb. 22, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) recorded five notable earthquakes in western Washington. The most recent was a 3.9 magnitude quake near Port Angeles on March 5.

The intrigue: Do these quakes tell us anything about the future?

• Perhaps, said Harold Tobin, the director of PNSN and Washington's state seismologist.

What they're saying: The recent series of temblors isn't necessarily a warning sign, he told Axios.

• It confirms we live in a seismically active region, and while the recent spike in quakes is above average, it's still within the normal range.

Yes, but: A 4.5-magnitude earthquake near Friday Harbor on March 3 has a small chance of being a foreshock to a larger event within the next month or so, he said.

• "It is not impossible that a larger earthquake could follow."

The big picture: A major earthquake strikes the Cascadia subduction zone roughly every 550 years. The last one hit in 1700, which means a repeat event could happen any time, Tobin previously told Axios.

What's happening: The Cascadia subduction zone, capable of producing 9-magnitude quakes, is where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate is slowly sliding beneath the North American plate.

• When they slip, the resulting quake could cause the coastline to drop and shift, turn some ground to mush and collapse roads, bridges and buildings.

Get your home earthquake-ready by anchoring heavy furniture, water heaters and appliances and putting breakable things onto lower shelves.

• Identify safe spots in each room to drop, cover and hold on.
• Build an emergency kit with two weeks' worth of food, water and essentials, including first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, medications and cash.

Pass it on

A historical museum in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood is among dozens of National Park Service leases the Trump administration wants to terminate, according to two lists that have been shared publicly.

Why it matters: The attempt to end the lease of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Seattle is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to slash federal spending.

• It comes on the heels of the administration firing thousands of National Parks and Forest Service workers, among other federal employees.

Yes, but: It's not clear that the Seattle museum — which features interactive exhibits on how the gold rush shaped the city and the Pacific Northwest — is in danger of closing.

• Historic Seattle, the group that owns the Cadillac Hotel Building that houses the museum at 319 Second Ave. South, says federal officials signed a five-year lease extension in September.
• That means the government is obligated to pay rent on the property through 2030, Kji Kelly, Historic Seattle's executive director, told Axios.
• "There's no magical termination or escape clause embedded within the lease," Kelly said.

What they're saying: A spokesperson for the General Services Administration, which manages federal property, didn't respond directly to questions about the Seattle park lease.

• "GSA is reviewing all options to optimize our footprint and building utilization," to include "the termination of many soft term leases," the agency said in a written statement.
• For some facilities, the agency is working "to secure suitable alternative space," the statement added.

What we're watching: Whether the federal government decides to stop paying rent for the building, sparking a legal fight.

Read more

🏈 The Seahawks have traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a third-round draft pick. (NFL.com)

• The Hawks also are sending wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a second-round draft pick, according to sources with knowledge of the deal. (ESPN)

⛴ Gov. Bob Ferguson has pledged to have Washington's ferries running at pre-pandemic levels by summer. He's delaying plans to convert two vessels to hybrid-electric power to keep more boats in service. (KUOW)

The U.S. Small Business Administration is moving its regional office out of Seattle, citing the city's so-called "sanctuary" policies toward undocumented immigrants as the reason. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Even the tooth fairy is pinching pennies these days.

The big picture: For the second year in a row, an annual Delta Dental survey found the tooth fairy is paying less for lost teeth than the year before.

• The average value of a single lost tooth declined by 14% from $5.84 to $5.01, according to the survey of 1,000 parents of children ages 6 to 12.
• In 2023, the value of a single lost tooth reached a record high when it was $6.23.

Go deeper

We're so thankful to our members for their support of our work through their contribution to our newsroom.

If you join as an Axios Seattle member, you'll get insider notes from the team, birthday shoutouts in the newsletter and other perks.

• Plus, you'll be part of our growth and ensure that our news is always free and accessible to the community.

We're grateful for your trust and continued readership.

You all are getting a bit too good at this guessing game, so we're dialing up the difficulty this week.

Guess where we were when we snapped this photo and you truly will have earned your stripes as a Seattleite.

• We may also give you a shoutout in the newsletter, or ask to feature you as one of our upcoming readers of the week.

Just hit reply or email us at [email protected] to submit your guess!