Preparing for the megaquake

Last updated 2/9/2016 at Noon

January 26, 1700, approximately 9 p.m. - The earth ruptures, coming unzipped along 600 miles of coastline from what is now British Columbia into what is now northern California.

The whole world shakes, and it seems like it will never end. Massive sections of forested coastline nearly instantly drop three to six feet, leaving giant trees embedded in salt water to die and leave ghost forests that will stand sentinel in the sand three centuries later.

A tsunami will roll across the ocean, taking nine hours to reach Japan. Scribes will leave record of this "orphan tsunami" that arrived from thousands of miles across the ocean without anyone in Japan feeling the quake that heralded it.

The quake must have been a magnitude 9 - one of the most powerful in history.

It will happen again. It could happen at any time. Scientists estimate that there is a 1-in-3 chance of a megaquake hitting in the next 50 years.

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The potentially catastrophic effects of a "full rip" Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake have garnered the attention of emergency management officials, first responders and alert citizens of late.

Last December, Dr. Daniele McKay, a geology professor at OSU Cascades, made a presentation on the quake at a training session for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District. Dr. McKay detailed the geological and historical record that details the 1700 full-rip earthquake, and described the effects such a quake would have in modern Oregon.

The effects, as can be imagined, would be catastrophic on the coast, with massive damage from the shaking and from a likely tsunami, which would probably inundate many low-lying areas.

Emergency planners on the coast have identified rallying points and tsunami evacuation routes for the immediate aftermath of the quake, but the effects would be long-lasting, with a massive rescue and relief effort required to rescue and/or supply and sustain isolated populations along the coast.

Effects would be felt far inland, with significant damage in the Willamette Valley. Depending on the time of year, a megaquake could trigger multiple major landslides that could cut off highways through the Coast Range and the Cascades.

And many of the state's highway bridges would be rendered unusable - either heavily damaged or collapsed.

For Central Oregon, it is this disruption of transportation and the ripple effects of damage elsewhere that will be the most significant effect of a full-scale Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

Direct damage from shaking is likely to be minor, according to Dr. McKay. But the people of Sisters Country are not insulated from the effects.

Jack McGowan of Sisters has been a long-time advocate of emergency preparedness and serves on the board of directors for Oregon Public Broadcasting, which recently broadcast a major series on the megaquake scenario titled "Unprepared."

Jim Cunningham of Sisters is the former commander of the Oregon Air National Guard and, as such, was recently briefed on the latest emergency plans for the aftermath of a megaquake.

He describes the planning as "a punch-list of missions" that are expected to be needed in the first 14 days after a catastrophic quake.

"The first two weeks is going to be the toughest portion," he said. "This is like a playbook."

Both urge local residents to prioritize their personal emergency preparedness (see related column, page 18).

Cunningham and McGowan agree that disruption of the fragile network of modern life is the area to focus on in Sisters Country.

"Our fuel supply will be immediately cut off," McGowan said, noting that 90 percent of Central Oregon's fuel comes from a depot in Portland that will almost certainly sustain significant damage in a megaquake.

Damage to roads and bridges may make it difficult to deliver food supplies to local markets. And electrical power may be disrupted or shut down for an extended period of

time.

There has been some concern expressed that Central Oregon might be inundated with refugees. Sgt. Nathan Garibay of the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office told first responders during their December training that it is unlikely that many people would be able to reach Central Oregon even if they desired to do so, at least not immediately. Roads will be damaged - and probably be closed to eastbound traffic to enable what help can be sent from the east to get to the hard-hit western part of the state.

However, he said, "I think we have to plan for some degree of displaced population coming into our communities."

Garibay also emphasized that power will be disrupted.

"We're planning for at least seven days here locally," he said.

If the quake happens in the middle of winter, as the 1700 quake did, that could leave many local residents without their main source of heat. And electrical power is vital to keeping water supplies flowing, too.

But power may not be the most critical issue.

What should local folks prepare for?

"I think the two biggest issues are going to be water and fuel," Cunningham

said.

Self-reliance will be critical to get through the immediate and long-term aftermath of a megaquake. Emergency responders will be busy, even if they are not sent to other parts of the state to help quake victims.

Being prepared means you are not a burden on badly stretched emergency personnel.

Both men are quick to point out that preparedness does not mean bunkering-up and hunkering down. Carrying on will require neighborly support.

"If you are prepared, you can offer support to others," McGowan said.

That means having a supply of water, food (for pets as well as humans), cooking and heating capability and a supply of vital medications (see story, page 31).

A full-rip quake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone could happen today - or it could happen 50 years from now. There is no reason to live in fear of even such a catastrophic natural disaster - especially if you are prepared and know that you and your neighbors and your community are ready to weather the storm.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

Email: [email protected]
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Sisters Country preparing for the big one

What can local citizens do to be prepared for a major emergency such as a catastrophic mega earthquake?

First, recognize the vulnerabilities. In a "full-rip" Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, there is likely to be significant damage to the state's major fuel depot in the St. Johns area of Portland. And re-routing fuel supplies, which are contracted for, won't be a quick or easy proposition. And in a major region-wide emergency, fuel will be allocated first to emergency responders.

"Whatever you have in your tank when it happens is what you're gonna have," says Jack McGowan, a local preparedness advocate.

Ideally, you'd have some form of fuel storage for, say 100 gallons. But hardly anybody can realistically do that. So, the best practice is simply to fill your tank - and don't let it get below half-empty. That way you've always got at least some fuel on hand.

A couple of safely stored five-gallon gas cans are a good idea, too - treated so that the fuel doesn't go bad. Drop the gas into your tank every few months and get a fresh supply in the cans.

Water is critical to life. Experts recommend storing at least one gallon of water per person for three days for drinking, cooking and sanitation. (www.ready.gov/water). That's a lot of water in an emergency that lasts for several days or weeks.

Putting up a few flats of commercial bottled water is a good idea, as is filling several camping containers. It's also a very good idea to have a good water purification device in case you are caught somewhere away from your water supply. It's always a good idea to carry one in your hiking pack or your emergency car kit anyway.

The grocery supply network is likely to be severely disrupted in a major earthquake scenario. Most emergency plans call for food supplies for 72 hours - but for an event like a Cascadia quake, you need to be prepared for much longer: Three weeks to a month.

Having a stock of canned food is fine - but you have to cycle through it. McGowan recommends purchasing a couple of containers of freeze-dried food from Costco.

"They're not as expensive as you might think," he said.

The food stores well and has a 20-year shelf life.

Surplus stores carry supplies of MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) and you can find tasty freeze-dried backpacking food at stores that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.

Don't count on the ability to refrigerate food. And don't forget that your pets will need to eat, too - so you need to lay in a backup supply of their food as well.

You'll also need to have the means to cook. Camping stoves are convenient, easy to use and effective.

It's a very good idea to have an emergency backup for vital medications. Just like the food chain, the supply chain for pharmacies is likely to be disrupted.

Having an alternative source of heat is important if you heat primarily with electricity. A portable gas-powered generator is fine for a while - but in a scenario where fuel supplies are short for an extended period of time, that may not help you.

A wood stove requires nothing but some muscle to create the fuel.

Get a Red Cross solar/crank radio so you won't be completely out of touch on vital announcements/news if the communication net goes down for an extended period.

For some folks, there is an innate, perhaps subconscious, resistance to spending money and effort preparing for something that may never happen. But preparing for "The Big One" also leaves you in great shape to handle smaller emergencies, from winter power outages to a financial crunch that forces you to tap some emergency supplies.

And, for the well-prepared, the confidence that you are ready for anything and in a position to help your family, friends, and neighbors, offers tremendous peace of mind.