Such an earthquake off the Oregon Coast will generate a local tsunami inundating the immediate coastline. With that threat comes the responsibility of community evacuation preparedness.
For many years Oregon coastal communities such as Yachats have been building their resiliency to survive such an event. The first consideration is the significant earthquake shaking and the second is to evacuate those who are in the local tsunami inundation area to high ground. Given that obstacles created by the quake are highly likely, your two feet are the best way to evacuate out of the local tsunami area to higher ground and as we know, practice makes perfect.
This is your chance to do something to prepare for the “Big One” if you live in Yachats or frequent the beautiful Oregon Coast and want to practice. Join the City of Yachats and the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District on Friday, June 10th at 12:45pm, to practice our community Tsunami Walk beginning sharply at 1:00pm. Local home owners in the local tsunami zone will evacuate directly from their homes to high ground. Visitors who wish to participate are encouraged to park in designated parking areas along the shoreline, parks, etc. and at 1:00pm, follow the evacuation routes towards high ground or tsunami assembly areas as noted on the public evacuation maps.
This tsunami evacuation drill is coordinated as part of the multi-state Cascadia Rising Exercise sponsored by FEMA Region X, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, and the County of Lincoln, to be held June 7 — 10th. Tsunami evacuation maps and routes can be found at www.oregontsunami.org or stop by any city hall or public safety agency for printed maps of that area.
Local residents and businesses will receive a phone call from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office mass notification system, Citizen Alert land line numbers and individual opt-in profiles on June 8th, early evening and then again at 12:45 on the 10th to signify the activation of the exercise at 1:00pm.
