Lincoln County communities participated in day one of Cascadia Rising, the largest ever regional earthquake exercise supported by FEMA Region X that includes local, state, tribal and federal partners. In an exercise that lasted between 7am until noon today, Lincoln County, City and Tribal agencies opened their Emergency Operation Centers in response to a simulated magnitude 8.2 earthquake occurring along the southern Cascadia Subduction Zone with the epicenter in Brookings, Oregon. As a result, (in the simulation) Oregon Coast residents experienced a 6.2 magnitude earthquake with approximately two minutes of shaking and the small scenario size of a local tsunami.
Participating agencies include the cities of Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, Newport, Siletz, Toledo, Waldport, Yachats, the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Depoe Bay Fire, Seal Rock Fire and Rescue, Yachats Fire, Siletz Valley Fire and Rescue, Willamette Valley Communications Center, Oregon State Parks and Recreation, Lincoln County Auxiliary Communications Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (Newport), US Coast Guard, Representative David Gomberg’s Office, Lincoln County School District, Oregon State Police, and Lincoln County.
Tuesday’s exercise tested the capability of the county, city and tribal Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) to execute situational assessment, resource tracking, communications and command and control. County Commissioner Doug Hunt noted, “We need to recognize that the Cascadia event will occur; we don’t know when. However, the more we train and exercise, the better we will be able to respond to our citizens and mitigate the damage and loss of life.”
On Friday, June 10th, (Cascadia Main Shock 9.0) Lincoln County will simulate a full catastrophic event with no communications or serviceable public infrastructure. On 5/19/16, the Office of Oregon Emergency Management released a detailed Cascadia Rising Exercise background document that can be found at http://www.flashalert.net/id/OregonOfficeofEmergencyManagement.
Businesses and households are encouraged to participate by reviewing their current emergency family or business plans, checking on their current emergency “Go Kits” or taking steps to put these things in place as part of the larger effort to build community resiliency. More information can be found on the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office website, www.lincolncountysheriff.net.
Information and photos provided by Casey Miller PIO Lincoln County
