What our region has not learned from the Japan earthquake and tsunami

It’s time we give everyone the information they deserve to face the reality of living in an earthquake hot zone, writes Seattle Times guest columnist Timothy Melbourne, professor of seismology and tectonics at Central Washington University.

As the third anniversary of the Japan earthquake and tsunami of March 2011 approaches, we will undoubtedly see those images again of buildings, ships, homes and cars being swept away like discarded scraps. These are horrific reminders that a quake and tsunami of the same size — or greater — could strike here some day.

Read the rest of Melbourne's guest column published Wednesday on the Seattle Times editorial pages. The column appeared Tuesday evening online.