What’s Shaking at the Oregon Coast?

Sponsored by the Oregon Red Cross and the Oregon
Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.
Contact James Roddey for more information at
971.673.1543 or james.roddey@state.or.us.


Join award winning author and educator James Roddey for a series of eye-opening presentations all about getting ready for "The Big One!" At each talk there will be an emergency gear give-away and you'll also learn why elephants might make the best tsunami warning system ever... and it’s all free!

James Roddey, a.k.a.
The Prophet of Doom

Tuesday, July 5 , 6:30 PM - Yachats Commons

Wednesday, July 6, 6:30 PM - Florence Events Ctr.

Thurs., July 7, 6:30 PM Reedsport Pacific Auditorium

Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness Workshops Offered

Oregon Emergency Management Geologic Hazards Coordinator Althea Rizzo and other agency experts will be holding free preparedness workshops concerning tsunamis and earthquakes in several Oregon communities in May.

Oregon has suffered considerable damage from the recent distant tsunami from Japan, from two moderate earthquake events in 1993 and a distant tsunami from Alaska in 1964. Scientific evidence indicates that Oregon is at risk for much larger and potentially more damaging tsunami created by an earthquake associated with the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan brings the hazard home and offers a teachable moment. Join us as we talk about how to be more prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis in Oregon!

2011 QuakePrep Road Show Schedule
Location Venue and address Time of event

Monday, May 09, 2011 Corvallis
Linus Pauling Auditorium,
1111 NW Cleveland Avenue;
Corvallis, OR 97330 7:00-9:00 PM

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Monroe Monroe Fire Station,
680 Commercial Street,
Monroe, 97456 6:00-8:00 PM

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Eugene University of Oregon
129 McKenzie Hall 6:00-8:00 PM

Saturday, May 14, 2011 Brookings
Kalmiopsis Elementary School,
Multi-Purpose Room (Cafeteria),
650 Easy Street 12:00-4:00 PM

Port Orford
Port Orford Council Chambers,
555 W. 20th St
Port Orford, OR 97465 6:00-8:00 PM


Sunday, May 15, 2011 Coos Bay
Community Health and Education Center (CHEC Building),
3950 Sherman Avenue,
Coos Bay/North Bend, OR 1:30-3:30 PM

Reedsport
Pacific Auditorium,
2260 Longwood Dr,
Reedsport, OR 6:00-8:00 PM

Monday, May 16, 2011 Toledo
285 NE Burgess road,
Toledo or. 97391 2:00-4:00 PM

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Tillamook
Tillamook Library,
1716 3rd St.
Tillamook, OR 97141 6:30-8:30 PM

Wednesday, May 18,2011 Seaside
The Seaside Civic & Convention Center,
Necanicum Room ,
415 First Avenue,
Seaside, Oregon 97138 6:00-8:00 PM


Train the Trainer workshop:
Thursday, May 19, 2011 Astoria/Warrenton
Holiday Inn Express,
204 West Marine Drive 2:00-7:00 PM

Nuclear event in Japan poses no health risk in Oregon; state continues monitoring

STATEMENT FROM OREGON PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION DIRECTOR MEL KOHN, M.D., M.P.H. The Oregon Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program and the Radiation Protection Services are closely monitoring information on the radiation release reported in Japan after an explosion at a reactor site Saturday.

There have been no elevated radiation readings detected in Oregon and air samples remain normal. Given the current size of the release and the distance from Oregon, we do not expect that to change and there is no public health risk to the state. We are also in contact with our federal partners including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Oregon state health department will continue its monitoring work as the situation in Japan develops and changes.

The EPA website also has good information in their live feed section.

Oregon at Risk

Check this link for information on each region.


http://opdr.uoregon.edu/stateplan/regional#region1

Regional Profile Overview

The Oregon Coast region has experienced an 5.3% increase in population since 2000. This represents a lower rate of growth than other regions of the state. Just over half of the region's population lives in incorporated areas. Thirty percent of the region's houses were built before 1960, 35% between 1960 and 1980, and 35% were built after 1980. Transportation networks are an important consideration for the coastal region given the physical boundary of the ocean to the west and the Coast Range to the east. The average commute for workers in this region is 22 minutes each way. Most bridges in the area have not been seismically retrofitted, creating significant risk to the commuting population from earthquakes. Historically, the fishing, lumber and wood products industries dominated this region, but those industries have been surpassed by service sector jobs and retail. The median income for residents of region 1 in 2007 was $38,183. This is below the national average of $50,007 and the state's average of $47,385.

Regional Hazard Assessment Overview

Region 1 has a high probability of being affected by a tsunami, earthquake, flooding, landslides, wildfire, or windstorms. It has a low probability of being impacted by volcanic hazards.

The geographical position of Region 1 makes it highly vulnerable to earthquakes from several sources, but the off-shore Cascadia Subduction Zone could cause the greatest damage. The last large earthquake recorded - though not a subduction event - was a magnitude 7.3 in 1873 with an epicenter near the City of Brookings. Tsunamis typically occur as secondary hazards to earthquakes, or occasionally due to underwater landslides. In 1964, Cannon Beach, Coos Bay, Depoe Bay, Florence, Gold Beach, and Seaside were struck by a tsunami generated in Alaska, thereby incurring over half a million dollars in damage and resulting in four fatalities. In Region 1 there can be a moderate to high level of vulnerability to tsunamis below 100 feet MSL.

High winds can be expected throughout Region 1. Gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour are fairly common at several coastal locations during winter storms. The most famous of these storms is the 1962 Columbus Day storm that had recorded winds over 130 mph on the coast and resulted in 23 fatalities. The vulnerability to windstorms in the region is high to moderate, mitigated to some extent by building code provisions that account for high winds.

Three types of flooding occur in this region: riverine, ocean flooding from high tides and wind-driven waves, and flooding associated with a tsunami event. Repetitive flood events have impacted the City of Tillamook, exceeding the base flood elevation numerous times, including 1996, 1998 and 1999. FEMA later re-mapped the floodplain in the City of Tillamook, and the 100-year base flood elevation is higher in some areas along north Highway 101. Most of the counties in Region 1 have a high probability of flooding. Heavy rainstorms also typically cause landslides. The vulnerability to landslides is high to moderate.

Region 1 is less vulnerable to drought impacts than most of Oregon, but droughts can still be problematic, especially given that they often precede major wildfires. Severe drought conditions resulted in the four disastrous Tillamook fires (1933, 1939, 1945, 1951), collectively known as the Tillamook Burn. There have been a number of long droughts throughout the last century, as well as a drought during 2001. While the region's vulnerability to drought is low, its vulnerability to wildfire is considered high to moderate.

For more information on previous occurrences of hazard events, as well as the probability of future hazard events as estimated in local risk assessments, download the full regional profile.

Interesting article on the 10 most devastating earthquakes of all time

Article by Ashley Merusi on devastiting eartquakes. Thank you Ashley!!

http://www.onlinecolleges.net/2010/03/12/10-most-devastating-earthquakes-of-all-time/

Earthquake news from the News Review in Douglas County, OR

http://www.nrtoday.com/article/2010100229995


The devastation following the earthquake in Haiti on Jan. 12 shocked many in Douglas County, but right here at home a similarly damaging earthquake is just waiting to happen.Lurking under the sea 50 miles off the Southern Oregon coast is a dangerous threat. Two pieces of the Earth's crust pushing against each other at an offshore fault will eventually cause an earthquake reaching a magnitude of 9.0 or higher that will rock Douglas County, according to experts, as well as the rest of the state.

The resulting shaking, which could last anywhere between four and 10 minutes, would result in tsunamis, flooding and landslides that would likely cause widespread devastation. Buildings, roads, highways and bridges throughout Douglas County would be damaged. Power, water and other utilities would be cut off. Communication with land lines, as well as cell phones, would be impossible.And this type of devastating earthquake could be due to strike Oregon. Geologists predict that such an earthquake happens about every 250 to 800 years. The last time such a huge earthquake hit Oregon was 310 years ago.“It's one of those things that geologists are fond of saying, ‘It's not a matter of if. It's a matter of when,' ” said Umpqua Community College geology instructor Jason Aase.

The chance of Oregon being hit by a major quake in the next 50 years, he said, is about 14 percent.“If you go to California, earthquakes happen all the time,” said Aase. “Here they don't happen so people aren't prepared for them. Certainly not a magnitude 8 or 9. That's huge.”The Haitian earthquake was a magnitude 7.0 and lasted about 40 seconds. At a magnitude of 9, the earthquake lurking in Oregon's future would be much more violent, said Aase. It would release roughly 900 times the amount of energy as the Haiti quake and last for minutes instead of seconds, he said. Government agencies were ill-equipped to handle the Haitian quake devastation. Many buildings would never have met the strict seismic standards required in the U.S.In Douglas County, those who would be called upon to help during a devastating earthquake say they have a disaster plan.

Measures include ensuring the availability of shelters for quake victims, running disaster drills and setting up special modes of communication so government agencies and other disaster responders can connect even if phone lines are down. The Cascadia Subduction ZoneEach day, more pressure builds up along the 700-mile-long Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the Juan de Fuca Plate meets the North American Plate underneath the Pacific Ocean.

Along the subduction zone, which stretches off the coast of southern British Colombia down to upper northern California, the two plates constantly push up against each other, causing the Juan de Fuca Plate to subduct, or sink, underneath the North American Plate. “It's trying to force its way underneath the North American Plate,” said Aase of the Juan de Fuca plate. Aase likens the process to compressing a yard stick on both sides. At first, it will just keep bending and bending, but at some point, the pressure will be too great and the stick will snap.“Eventually, the two plates are going to come together and it's going to release all this energy,” he said. Devastation

The resulting earthquake would have catastrophic, far-reaching effects, said James Roddey, earth sciences information officer for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. Roddey, who said he is often referred to as the “Prophet of Doom,” travels the state preaching to the public about the impending disaster, including a speech he gave at Roseburg High School last spring.“There would be substantial damage in Southern Oregon,” he said, adding that this part of Oregon is even more susceptible to damage because the Cascadia fault is about 25 miles closer to the coast than in the rest of Oregon.Douglas County's coastal communities would be the most vulnerable, he said. Towns such as Reedsport and Winchester Bay would be flooded by tsunami waves stretching more than 100 miles long and 30 to 70 feet tall, crashing into the coast repeatedly.

But areas farther inland, such as those along the Interstate 5 corridor, wouldn't be spared despite experiencing a lower magnitude of about 7.0, Roddey said.In Roseburg, for instance, older historic buildings in areas such as downtown, especially those built out of brick, would be destroyed. Homes and businesses near the South Umpqua River and on steep hills could be swept away by landslides. Bridges crossing the South Umpqua River, such as the Washington and Oak Street spans, would be in danger of collapsing. “A huge magnitude 9 earthquake is not going to shake violently. It's going to shake for a long time and that's how it does the damage,” said Roddey.Meanwhile, throughout Douglas County transportation would be extremely limited, causing family members to easily become isolated from each other.“The I-5 corridor would cease to exist,” said Roddey. Since the highway passes over so many waterways with bridges that aren't likely to withstand being shaken for so long, it would be basically impassable, he said.

An Oregon Department of Transportation report on the seismic vulnerability of Oregon state highway bridges, which came out last November, confirms Roddey's warning. “With the majority of state-owned bridges designed and built between 1950 and 1980, the state of Oregon would face a devastating post-earthquake situation if a major event occurred in the state,” the report states.According to the report, along with bridge collapses along Interstate 5, U.S. Highway 101 would be severely damaged. Additionally, all of the existing state highways connecting Highway 101 to I-5 would be impassible, which would effectively cut the coast off from the rest of Douglas County Emergency Response.

In anticipation of all these frightening scenarios, those who'd be called on to help with relief say they have plans in place to make disaster relief go as smoothly as possible.“The people in the field are going to do what they're trained to do,” said Wayne Stinson, who's in charge of the Emergency Management Division of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The difficult part will be coordinating relief efforts among various communities and agencies, he said.“The good thing is there's a lot of emergency services in most of the communities,” he said. “We've got back-up systems for a lot of critical components.”“But are we ready?” he added. “ No.”

The problem is it's near impossible to fully prepare for such a large earthquake, but he and others responsible for disaster response in Douglas County are doing their best to be ready for the worst, one step at a time, he said.“It definitely would be a collaboration of the community in the event of a disaster,” said Kathleen Nickel, a spokeswoman for Mercy Medical Center.

The hospital, like other agencies that would respond in a disaster, has created a disaster plan and participates in regular drills with other emergency responders to be prepared for the worst. Mercy, for, instance, has water stored and generators for power with fuel to last about a week, said Bob Dannenhoffer, vice president of clinical effectiveness and a member of the hospital safety committee. Stinson said the Emergency Management Division coordinates one or two disaster drills a year where a county emergency operation center is set up at the sheriff's office to coordinate disaster response.

Last year's exercise was a earthquake scenario, he said. One advantage of smaller, more rural communities of Douglas County, Stinson said, is a familiarity among emergency response agencies.“We all know each other,” he said. “Most of us know each other on a first name or occasional contact basis.”Along with anticipating working together with county emergency responders, the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross has agreements with local churches, schools and community centers to create up to 75 disaster shelters throughout the county, said Red Cross volunteer George Roth, the local emergency services coordinator. To supply these shelters, they've stockpiled food, water, cots, blankets, clothes, toiletries and basic first aid supplies, he said.They've also set up plenty of ways to keep in touch with other shelters and agencies providing disaster relief, using radios that should work even when other modes of communication are down. These radios, he said, will also make it possible for families that have been separated to communicate with one another and send along a message that they're alive. The Red Cross can also set up a Web site, like the one created following Hurricane Katrina, to alert relatives living in other parts of the country that family members are all right. Roth is among about 40 or 50 people in the county that operate amateur radios that can also be used for communication following an earthquake.

The county has taken similar measures to ensure that disaster responders can communicate, said Stinson, but if those fail, communications may depend on amateur radio operators.

Among the greatest concerns is the threat of coastal Douglas County being cut off from the rest of the county, said Stinson. As a result, a special emergency management center would be set up at a Reedsport fire station to serve that part of the county, he said.

Personal responsibility -Ultimately, though, county disaster response experts say each person is responsible for their own safety and survival following a high-magnitude earthquake.

Stinson said he often preaches the importance of personal preparedness, because there's no way people will be able to rely on the government following such a large-scale disaster.Roth agrees.“If you have an event that renders a whole community in need of (emergency) services, you need to be prepared to take care of yourself,” he said.

Families should arrange a central meeting point if they are separated and stockpile enough food, water and other supplies to last for at least three days — two weeks in rural areas and along the coast, he said.“The important thing is for people to be aware that it can happen,” he said. “Make a kit and prepare as a family.”•

You can reach reporter Inka Bajandas at 541-957-4202 or by e-mail at ibajandas@nrtoday.com.

Information from: Althea Turner Geologic Hazards Program CoordinatorOregon Emergency

Oregon lies at a convergent continental boundary where two tectonic plates are colliding. There are over 1000 earthquakes over magnitude 1.0 in Washington and Oregon every year, with at least two dozen being large enough to be felt. Approximately 17 people have lost their lives due to earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1872, there have been 20 damaging earthquakes in Washington and Oregon[1]. The Pacific coast poses special risk from tsunamis associated with a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. In addition to Subduction zone earthquakes, Oregon is also susceptible to crustal earthquakes. The two largest earthquakes in recent years in Oregon, Scotts Mills, (magnitude 5.6) and the Klamath Falls, main shocks (magnitude 5.9 and magnitude 6.0) of 1993 were crustal earthquakes[2].

In recognition of this seismic risk, Oregon has taken measures to mitigate and prepare for the inevitable destructive earthquakes and tsunami. In the 1990s, Oregon began to revise the Uniform Building Code to reflect the recent research showing the higher risks from earthquakes[3]. Many schools, public buildings and critical infrastructure were built previous to the newer, more stringent codes, and are susceptible to failure in a seismic event. According to a 2007 Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) report, over 1000 schools and 200 emergency facilities are at a high or very high risk of “probability that the building will collapse if ground motions occur that are equal to or exceed the maximum considered earthquake at that location.”[4]



[1] http://www.pnsn.org/INFO_GENERAL/faq.html. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[2] http://www.oregon.gov/DOGAMI/earthquakes/EQs.shtml. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[3] http://quake.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/PacNW/. Retrieved June 24, 2009
[4] DOGAMI Open-File Report O-07-02. p. iv.

Ready now, Steady later

Preparing for a disaster is one of those projects it's easy to put off. Don't wait; do it now. Rarely do you get a warning that a disaster is on its way in time to do much about it. At worst, planning ahead can make the difference between surviving or not. At the least, an emergency kit and a clear plan will help your family and neighbors be more comfortable while you wait it out.

Oregon is vulnerable to vaious types of natural hazards, from severe winter storms to earthquakes and floods. We also need to be prepared for thereats from aiforne chemicals, fires, tainted water or acts of aggression.

Many regional and national organizations have web sites, blogs and other communications dedicated to disaster preparedness. Oregon Emergency Management suggests you visit www.ready.gov for information about "Sheltering in Place," prepareing a 72 hour kit and making a disaster plan. There are diagrams and lists you can review and print out to help. The Red Cross also has a very useful site, www.oregonredcross.org. Check your local emergency management agencies for twitters and blogs like this one.

OEM's twitter is www.twitter.com/baileyjn. This is where we will post emergency information during disasters and education information when things are calmer.

Preparedness should be a lifestyle

We received a message from one of our readers this week with some great ideas about being prepared for emergencies large and small.

Dwight Racke has experienced all types of disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes. He thinks disaster preparedness should be a lifestyle.

Here are some of Racke's suggestions:

-People should think of the family car as an RV. Keep a box full of snacks and bottled water under one of the seats. When running errands with active kids, they can snack instead of becoming crabby. (I did get an interesting call on this one saying this is why American's are Obese - especially state workers, but I think you get the point)

-Nighttime sporting events often get chilly, but you could have your lap blankets tucked away in the trunk.

-Emergency preparedness supplies always should be handy for small or large disasters and should be enough to help you "camp out" if needed following a larger event.

As Racke said in his e-mail, most of "disaster preparedness" boils down to camping.

That's a great way to think about it. You need the same items that you would take if you were on a camping trip.

Keep your camping gear stored away from the home. If an earthquake strikes and your family has to flee the house, you may be able to get to your camping gear and have everything you need to get by for two weeks.

During many large scale disasters, some areas are so devastated that people have to camp out on their front lawns for days or weeks waiting for assistance.

Let's do as Racke suggests and take baby steps in the way of disaster preparedness.

Jennifer Bailey, formerly of FEMA, is the public affairs coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294 or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.

Myth 6 Nothing like that could ever happen here

Though some areas are more prone to certain types of disasters, for example earthquakes in California, or terror attacks in New York, no area on earth is completely immune. Also, as much as people travel these days, you might end up somewhere in a disaster situation that you never considered before.

There is nothing smarter than being prepared for the unexpected. You don't want to be one of the dependent ones.

There are two types of trauma - physical and mental. Physical trauma includes the body's response to serious injury and threat. Mental trauma includes frightening thoughts and painful feelings. Mental trauma can produce strong feelings. It can also produce extreme behavior; such as intense fear or helplessness, withdrawal or detachment, lack of concentration, irritability, sleep disturbance, aggression, hypervigilance, (intensely watching for more distressing events), or flashbacks (sense that event is reoccuring).

Studies of survivors have found that those who had thought about possible disasterous events in advance, even just a small amount, reacted faster and better than those who hadn't. You do not want to have to think during a disaster, you want to just react appropriately and quickly.

No one wants to dwell on scary things, but planning evacuation routes out of your home, knowing where you would go, etc. is just like knowing where the exits are at the movie theater or having a smoke dectector in your home. Please put just a little more effort into considering other possibilites such as earthquake, chemical emergencies, pandemics, wind storms, and floods. Make sure every member of your family is ready and confident.