Photo: Rick Obst / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Planning for a Cascadia earthquake on the central coast comes down to a few things you can do now, while nothing is happening. Emergency managers in Lincoln County and the state Office of Emergency Management give the same core advice, and it is short enough to remember.
When the shaking starts
Drop, cover and hold on until the shaking stops. A great Cascadia earthquake could shake for several minutes. If you are on the beach or in the low-lying parts of town when it ends, move inland or uphill on foot right away. Do not wait for a siren or a phone alert, and do not go back for belongings. Stay on high ground until officials say it is safe, because a tsunami arrives as a series of waves over many hours.
Plan the walk
Look up your home and workplace on the state’s tsunami evacuation maps and find the nearest high ground outside the local hazard zone. Then walk it. Note the time, and look for things that could block the way after an earthquake, such as power lines, a bridge or a steep bank. Families should agree on a meeting place outside the zone, since children at school will evacuate with staff.
Pack for two weeks
State guidance asks Oregonians to be ready to look after themselves for two weeks, because roads, bridges and power lines to the coast could be out for a long time. A household kit should include water (about a gallon per person per day), food that keeps, medications, a flashlight, a battery or crank radio, warm layers, sturdy shoes and copies of important papers. Keep a smaller grab-and-go bag by the door or in the car.
Know the other warning
A tsunami from a distant earthquake would come with hours of warning, and local officials would use sirens, alerts and door-to-door notices. Sign up for Lincoln County’s emergency alerts and keep phone alerts switched on. Our article on ShakeAlert earthquake warnings explains what a phone alert can and cannot do.
Rosalind Teague covers ocean science, coastal hazards and the people who shaped the central coast.
