FAQs

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 600-mile fault that runs from northern California up to British Columbia and is about 70-100 miles off the Pacific coast shoreline. The last earthquake that occurred in this fault was on January 26, 1700, with an estimated 9.0 magnitude. This earthquake caused the coastline to drop several feet and a tsunami to form and crash into the land. Currently, scientists are predicting that there is about a 37 percent chance that an earthquake of at least 8.0 magnitude in this fault zone will occur in the next 50 years. This event will be felt throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The ground across Oregon will shake and roll for five to seven minutes. The Oregon Coast will be closest to the rupturing fault, resulting in severe shaking and a tsunami. Parts of the Oregon coastline are expected to drop. Inland, shaking will be very strong. Landslides will occur on mountain passes. Silty soils will be prone to liquefaction. East of the Cascades the shaking will weaken somewhat, but because of the sustained shaking, unreinforced masonry buildings will be damaged. There will be very strong aftershocks.

Oregon’s Office of Emergency Management encourages people to be prepared to be on their own for a minimum of two weeks. Many local emergency managers recommend preparing to shelter-in-place for at least a month without modern conveniences or utilities. This lessens the strain on emergency responders who need to focus limited resources on injured and other vulnerable populations immediately following a disaster. Have a meaningful conversation with the members of your household to discuss the following:

• Do you have backup transportation methods and routes?
• Who will care for the children, grandparents and pets if you are unable to get to them for several hours?
• Who in your neighborhood has medical skills, a generator, a chainsaw, or other important tools or resources?
• Do you have an out-of-state contact? Designate one person to be the main contact for your group of friends or family.

Use the Cascadia Action Steps: It’s Time to Get Ready checklist to help you get started.

Being prepared to be self-sufficient for two weeks is an achievable goal. Many of the standard preparedness kit items such as flashlights, gloves, hand-crank radios, trash bags and a first-aid kit are recommended. These OEM brochures will help you to think about how to be ready in a variety of ways.

• 2 Weeks Ready - First Aid
• 2 Weeks Ready - Food (English)
• 2 Weeks Ready - Food (Spanish)
• 2 Weeks Ready - Pets (English)
• 2 Weeks Ready - Pets (Spanish)

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