Scientists estimate there’s a 37% chance that a magnitude 8.0 or greater earthquake will strike off the Pacific Northwest coast in the next 50 years. When it happens, the Cascadia Subduction Zone event — and the tsunami that follows — will cause widespread devastation in Oregon.
To help Oregonians prepare for the Cascadia earthquake, tsunami and other geohazards, the Oregon State University Extension Service created a free, online course. The course has four self-paced modules, available in English and Spanish.
- Module 1 presents the evidence of the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) event.
- Module 2 focuses on the 5–7 minutes of shaking and immediate actions to take — and includes a virtual reality simulation.
- Module 3 explores life after the CSZ event and offers tools for long-term preparedness.
- Module 4 is designed for Extension professionals, neighborhood leaders and emergency response workers and volunteers.
Each module includes narrated sessions and a wide range of resources. Participants can explore as deeply as they choose.
As of November 2024, 968 people had registered for the English version of the course and seven for the Spanish version. Eighty-five participants had completed the first three modules.
Survey responses show the course has had a powerful impact:
- 100% would recommend it to others.
- 97% said it helped them improve their disaster preparedness.
- 72% said they plan to create printed copies of their family communication plan.
- 68% said they intend to secure heavy furniture to walls.
The course, Preparing for the Cascadia Subduction Zone Event, earned first place in the 2021 National Extension Disaster Education Award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. In 2022, its companion publication series — Creating a Culture of Preparedness — won the same award.
The course enables Oregonians to take practical steps that increase their safety and resilience. By building knowledge and confidence, it helps communities better prepare for and recover from future disasters.
