If the 'Big One' Ever Hit Boston...

Today is Thursday, August 25. Here are five things you need to know today.

1. Just as soon as folks figured out that they were not, in fact, crazy, and that they did, in fact, on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council put out a notice about how parts of the city are at risk should a "big one" ever hit. During an earthquake, something called "liquefication" can happen. Basically this means certain kinds of materials are absorbed into the ground, making the land unstable to the point where buildings could collapse. Because so much of Boston is built on filled-in tide flats and wetlands, liquefication poses a special danger in these parts. Everything in red on the map attached to this article is built on filled land. (Most of Charlestown is cut out of this map, but it looks like the Navy Yard is in red.)

2. Got a zoning notice this week from City Hall. Robert Chua is looking to change the legal occupancy of his building at 87 Cambridge Street from a two-family to a three-family. There will be a public hearing on this at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 13. For details, call the Board of Appeal at 617-635-4775.

3. This is a sad topic, but I'm looking for help: Two individuals from Charlestown died on Sept. 11. Myra Aronson, who lived on Russell Street, died on Flight 11. And Christopher Morrison died during a business meeting on the 107th Floor of Tower 1. If anyone in the neighborhood would like to share their memories of either of these victims, please get in touch: kristi.ceccarossi@patch.com.

4. Planning your weekend? Just beware -- it looks like there could be lots of heavy rain on Sunday as Hurricane Irene blows in.

5. But in today's forecast, there's only a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, particularly after noon. Otherwise, partly sunny with a high near 85.

For more info on what's happening around the neighborhood, check out our events calendar.