We don’t know when the “Big One” is coming. But it is coming.
There is a long history of earthquakes in our region. The average time between major quakes in the Cascadia Subduction Zone is 230 years — and the last one happened 319 years ago. The next Cascadia megaquake will cause significant damage and disruption. Preparation is key.
The City of Troutdale recently hosted a disaster preparedness seminar that was designed to provide the information everyone needs to build their level of readiness. It covered:
- the impacts of disasters
- roles of government and the public
- opportunities for connecting into the response and recovery system
- how to enhance your disaster resilience by building community connections
- how to develop your disaster response and recovery plan
- ways to put together disaster supplies
If you weren’t able to attend, you can still find the information that was shared by Troutdale City Manager/Emergency Manager Ray Young and Multnomah County Emergency Management Operations Division Chief Alice Busch, EMT, CEM.
You can view their Powerpoint presentation and check out a video from OPB’s Oregon Field Guide titled, “Unprepared.” It looks into the level of Oregon’s preparedness, and finds some unsettling information about our bridges, schools, hospitals, building codes and energy infrastructure. We also have a list of emergency preparedness resources available on our website. You'll find information on how to prepare for various natural disasters and other emergency situations.
When a major disaster strikes, your community can change in an instant. Emergency response is likely to be delayed so it’s going to be your neighbors and friends that will be helping you. And that community can be just as important as building an emergency kit.
Understand the risks. Make a plan. Be prepared.
