Pennsylvania Air Quality: What Is ‘Code Red,’ and How Long Will It Last?

The air quality throughout much of Pennsylvania, including in Philadelphia, is currently at "very unhealthy" levels for all residents. That's especially true for those with special health conditions. According to Accuweather, "very unhealthy" Philadelphia and Pennsylvania air quality means, "Health effects will be immediately felt by sensitive groups and should avoid outdoor activity. Healthy individuals are likely to experience difficulty breathing and throat irritation; consider staying indoors and rescheduling outdoor activities."

So, what is a "Code Red" air quality alert? It means that air pollution concentrations within the region are unhealthful for the general population.

Due to the unhealthy air quality, Philadelphia city pools are closed on Thursday (June 29). Also, summer camps run by the city will take place indoors. In addition, plenty of scheduled outdoor activities have been either canceled or moved indoors. So, if you're signed up for something, check your local event manager. Also, the city recommends residents call off outdoor events and gatherings and close all windows and doors to minimize air pollution in the residence. If you do go outside, the city recommends wearing a high-quality mask and avoiding areas of high congestion.

The "unhealthy" air quality, and the "Code Red," is expected to continue into Friday (June 20) and possibly into the weekend. In fact, according to Accuweather, air quality will remain "very unhealthy" through at least Sunday. If you need a little relief, New Jersey is expected to have better air quality than Pennsylvania, according to the forecast. That's especially true near the beach. So, that might offer a welcome haven from the smoke. Find more information on the Philadelphia air quality forecast via Accuweather here.

Everyone knows of the obvious places where you have to worry about experiencing an earthquake. But sometimes, there are less obvious spots, too. So, do we have any real risk of an earthquake in Pennsylvania?

A new study looks at the locations with the highest potential of earthquakes. A lot of them are in major cities. A few include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Memphis. That's according to government research done by FEMA.

In case you were wondering, earthquakes are costly. That's not to shame the states that have the most earthquakes, of course. Hurricanes are costly, too. So, whether you live in California, where earthquakes are likely, or in other areas across America where hurricanes happen, chances are, your area is taking up funding to cover these disasters. As it turns out, southern California coastal counties and the Bay Area are the most costly when it comes to earthquake damage. "Los Angeles County with $2.68 billion in annualized losses is more than three times greater than the second highest county (Santa Clara, California)," the FEMA report states. "The counties containing the Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake, and Memphis metropolitan areas also have relatively high AELs."

Pennsylvania ranks No. 30 and No. 43, respectively, out of the states for the report's "Ranking of States by Annualized Earthquake Loss and Annualized Earthquake Loss Ratios (AELR)." When it comes to Pennsylvania's risk, an interactive map shows the state split between "low" and "very low" risk for an earthquake. The eastern part of the state is in the "low" range.

Find the interactive map via CNN below and see where your area lands. You might be surprised by some of the areas that actually have a fairly high risk for activity. The map was "derived in part from a US Geological Survey study that created earthquake models to help inform municipalities and insurance companies about such hazards," according to CNN.

While you might think of a handful of cities who are in danger of earthquakes, and those are on the West Coast, there is earthquake activity all around. "Although most economic loss is concentrated along the West Coast, the distribution of relative earthquake risk, as measured by the AELR, is much broader and reinforces the fact that earthquakes are a national problem," FEMA says. "Relatively high earthquake loss ratios are throughout the western and central United States (states within the NMSZ) and in the Charleston, South Carolina, area."

You've heard of the Big Four, right? In metal music. Anyway, the Big 55 are the cities that experience the most earthquake activity. "Fifty-five metropolitan areas, led by the Los Angeles (including Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim) and San Francisco (including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley) Bay areas, account for 85% of the total AEL," FEMA says.

This is an interactive map of the United States showing each area's risk for earthquakes. You might be surprised by some of the areas that actually have a pretty high risk for activity. Click the link below to go to the interactive map via CNN.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/23/us/us-earthquake-risk-map-dg/index.html