Thank You for Preparing

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There's a lot of information here below. Do whatever is easiest first. Anything is better than nothing. If you can prepare with friends, you will prepare more!

Stay Safe

Key Objectives

* Stay informed of emergencies as they arise

* Mitigate potential risks in your home to minimize the possibility of injury

* Take the correct actions during and immediately after an earthquake to protect yourself and your property

Resources and Suggestions

~ Inform yourself of your local risks by typing your address into the Seattle Hazard Explorer or Oregon Public Broadcasting's Aftershock tool. Generally speaking, if you live west of the Cascades Mountains, expect heavy shaking and a prolonged disruption of all services and utilities in the event of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. 

~ Be informed of emergencies as they arise by signing up for your county's wireless alert system in Oregon or Washington (effective Feb. 25!). 

~ Identify potential hazards in your home and purchase the appropriate straps to anchor furniture. 

~ Make sure your water heater is secured firmly to the structure of your home. 

~ Identify the safest place in each room of your home (away from windows, clear of items that could potentially fall, below a table or desk if possible) and run an earthquake drill with your family. 

~ Download a reputable ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning app so that you can take protective action as quickly as possible. (This app can be downloaded now, but will only go live on March 11th in Oregon and the end of May in Washington.)

~ Refer to the guidance of your local gas company on when and whether to shutoff your gas after an earthquake. If recommended, hide a gas shutoff tool near your gas meter. 

Create Your Emergency Plan

Key Objectives

* Develop a communication strategy for your loved ones during an emergency

* Assign responsibilities for gathering and caring for vulnerable loved ones like children,  aging relatives and pets

*Determine where you might reunify if your home, neighborhood or city become unsafe

Resources and Suggestions

~Identify the location of your local Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node (BEECN) in Portland or Emergency Hub in Seattle. 

~For your family, download the Creating Your Emergency Plan

~ For your apartment complex, refer to the BC Prepared Guide for Apartments, Condos and Townhouses.

~ For your neighborhood, organize and mobilize around the Map Your Neighborhood program.

~ Choose a central point of contact for emergencies and remember that texting will likely be more reliable than voice communications after a large event. Keep a battery or crank powered radio in your kit.

~If you're visiting the beach, you're visiting a tsunami hazard zone. Plan your on-foot evacuation as soon as you get settled in your hotel by using the Nanoos site. 

Equip Yourself 

Key Objectives

* Be prepared to quickly evacuate should danger approach

* Be equipped to shelter in place at home without utilities and services during a widespread disaster

* Be ready for an events that could occur without warning when you're outside of your home

Resources and Suggestions

~ Download the Building Your Emergency Kit guide

~ Choose a container that is portable and durable. This container is similar to the one that the presenter uses. Store in a place that is free of falling hazard, accessible, and secure from possible theft. Sheds, car trunks and main-story closets are good options. Don't store in the basement or attic. If you camp, put all your camping items near or in the kit. 

~ Each member of your household requires one gallon of water per day for drinking, eating, and basic sanitary needs. In the PNW, the recommendation is at least 14 gallons per person. Two Aqua Tainers apiece will do the trick. 

~ Be sure to properly prepare, store and replenish your emergency drinking water.

~ Have 14 days of shelf-stable food (42 meals) per person in your home. In the event of an emergency, eat perishables first, then your emergency foods. 

~ After a major event like an earthquake, the toilets likely won't work. Put together an emergency 2-bucket toilet system. 

~ If you rely on prescription medication, this too should be stockpiled should your doctor and pharmacy be unavailable. Both Oregon and Washington have prescription drug programs that will allow you to purchase a substantially discounted emergency supply of many medications. There are no prequalifications except state residency. 

Additional Resources

& 

Answers to Audience Questions

~ Inspire yourself and others to begin their preparedness journey with this TED Talk

~ Earthquake Country Alliance - Lots of highly specific, in-depth and earthquake-specific resources

~ Get involved with your local Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) in Portland or Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Washington.

How hard was the shaking in the 1700 earthquake?

It's difficult to say what the shaking experience was in the interiors of Oregon and Washington. OSU has undertaken a study of submarine lake landslides to learn more about the experience of this and other past quakes.