Category Archives: Disaster

Preparing for a massive earthquake in the Pacific Northwest

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To prepare for a devastating earthquake, many organizations throughout the Northwest will practice responding to a 9.0 magnitude quake during a readiness drill this week. The drill will start on Tuesday, June 7 with this scenario: a massive earthquake strikes near Eugene, OR, damaging areas throughout the Northwest and triggering a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean.

Known as Cascadia Rising, this emergency preparedness drill is the largest in the Northwest and will include about 20,000 people from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and British Columbia. The exercise assumes a worst-case scenario in which bridges and roads are closed, power is out and water covers lowland areas. Local, state and federal agencies will practice moving food and water, conducting search and rescue operations, communicating on ham radios and more during this four-day megaquake and tsunami drill.

#CascadiaEQ Tweetchat

Scientists, emergency personnel and others are sharing information about earthquakes, communications and what to do after a quake on Twitter today. Follow #cascadiaeq to ask questions, share information about previous quakes and learn more. Here’s an example:

shakeout

Be prepared

The Cascadia Rising event is a good reminder for people to have emergency kits with food and water at home, work and in the car. Here’s how to build a kit for at least 7 days to make it through the “big one.”

For more information:

 

43 bells and 43 trees honor Oso one year after landslide

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One year after tragedy struck the small community of Oso, residents, rescuers, volunteers, and more gathered to honor the victims, survivors and community – still Oso Strong. On March 22, 2014 the hillside came down, blocking State Route 530 and the Stillaguamish River and burying homes in up to 70 feet of mud. One of Washington’s worst disasters, the SR 530 slide took the lives of 43 people. Yesterday a bell rang out for each of these 43 victims. On the first year after the disaster, the Seattle Times pays tribute to the Oso community in this article.

Photo of Liz and therapy dog

Liz with Pickles, the therapy dog.

When Snohomish County asked for assistance  last year, people quickly responded – including communications professionals. I am proud to have served as a public information officer for two days on the SR 530 slide, working in the Joint Field Office in Everett. I met people from throughout Washington State and the country who wanted to help. The rescue and therapy dogs made a big difference, too!

Yesterday, one year after the landslide, 43 trees were planted along the hillside to honor the victims. I hope these trees will grow as strong as the Oso community’s resilience and courage. I will continue to remember Oso, the people who came to help, and the people who call it home. Oso Strong.