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Disaster Preparedness in Oregon
- 2. Presentation goals • Define the importance of disaster relief agencies and non- governmental organizations. • Understanding the science of a tsunami and how susceptible the state of Oregon may become to a disaster. • Initiate options for tsunami education and methods of preparedness.
- 3. Disaster Relief Agencies and federal and non-governmental organizations • American Red Cross • Federal Emergency Management Agency • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration • United States Army Corps of Engineers • Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
- 4. Vulnerable communities The Oregon coast is one of the most profitable vacation spots in the Pacific Northwest. Many families migrate to this region every year and the population in many of these areas has increased.
- 5. What is a Tsunami? • A Tsunami is a wave caused by earthquakes or undersea volcanic eruptions (National Ocean Service). • Deep within the ocean, small waves no larger than a few inches develop. As these waves move inland, they increase to higher heights
- 6. Why should Tsunami Preparedness be priority in the state of Oregon!!
- 7. Volcanic Tsunamis: Volcanic activity can potentially generate waves that develop into a Tsunami. Volcanic tsunamis can be caused by: • Caldera collapses • Tectonic movement • Flank failure into a water source • Pyroclastic flow discharge into the sea (Oregon State University, n.d.) Approximately 5% of tsunamis are formed from volcanoes and approximately 16.9% of volcanic fatalities occur from tsunamis (Tanguy, J.C., 1988; Oregon State University et. al.).
- 8. Another reason why tsunami Awareness and Preparedness should be initiated in the state of Oregon… In 2011, an earthquake with a 9.0 magnitude struck off the coast of Japan (Wikipedia,2014 ). The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40.5 meters and travelled as far as 10km inland (Wikipedia, et al.)
- 9. Distant earthquakes On April 19, 2014 there was a massive earthquake that was documented at 7.8 that originated out of the Solomon Islands (The Oregonian, 2014). However, after taking protocol, it was confirmed that this massive earthquake did not pose a threat to the Western states of Oregon, Washington, California and Alaska (The Oregonian et. al.).
- 10. So how can we educate our communities and establish preparedness? And what needs to be done?
- 11. Proposition I propose that health departments along with disaster relief agencies and organizations develop ways in which tourists and residents of coastal communities can protect themselves and are provided ample enough time for evacuation measures.
- 12. References American Red Cross. Who are We? Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/tsunami Federal Emergency Management Agency. Mission. Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from: http://m.fema.gov/tsunamis IgeoNews. (2013). Ring of Fire. 452 Volcanos Threaten the Pacific: Earthquakes, Tsunamis. Video. Retrieved on May 2, 2014 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHZXdR-ROOI National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Tsunami. Retrieved on April 12, 2014 from: http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/ National Ocean Service. (2014). What is a Tsunami? Retrieved on April 12, 2014 from: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/tsunami.html Oregon State University. (n.d.). Volcanic Tsunamis. Retrieved on April 14, 2014 from: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/tsunamis
- 13. References The Oregonian. (2014). No Tsunami Threat to Pacific North West after 7.8 earthquake. Retrieved on April 20, 2014 from: http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2014/04/solomon_islands_78 _earthquake.html United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Explore Mount St. Helens…Discover Ecosystems in Action. Retrieved on April 13, 2014 from: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mountsthelens United States Geological Survey. (n.d.). Mount Hood-History and Hazards of Oregon’s Most Recently Active Volcano. Retrieved on April 14, 2014 from: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs060-00/ Wikipedia. (2014). 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Retrieved on May 2, 2014 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami
Editor's Notes
- Hello! My name is Lydia Patton. I am a Masters of Public Health student at Walden University. I am here today to talk about the importance of initiating Tsunami Awareness and preparing communities within the Tsunami margins in Oregon.
- Major goals I wish for this presentation to accomplish are: One, to initiate the importance of disaster relief agencies and non-governmental organizations. Examples include American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Tsunami Mitigation Program. Second, to establish an understanding of the science behind a tsunami and conveying the state of Oregon’s susceptibility to a disaster. Before preparedness can be initiated, our communities must be educated on the subject.
- This presentation is geared towards initiating the importance of Tsunami awareness and preparedness. Various agencies and organizations are equipped with resources and personnel that I’m certain will serve beneficial to the safety, awareness and protection of communities at risk of experiencing a tsunami disaster. The American Red Cross is a disaster relief agency to provide for those in need. This organization provides volunteers, resources as well as employees as a source of enhancing the mission of this agency to assist needing communities (American Red Cross). The Federal Emergency Management Agency is a federal agency that is geared towards the preparation and prevention, response and recovery from disasters (FEMA). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a federal agency focused on the condition of the oceans and the atmosphere (NOAA). I believe that this agency would be beneficial in the initiation of proper warning systems for communities lying within the Tsunami limits. The United States Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for investigating, developing and maintaining the nation’s water and related environmental resources (USACE). Geared towards preventing disastrous events, I believe that this organization would serve beneficial in the prevention of communities experiencing secondary devastation from a tsunami event. The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries provides preparedness for geologic geohazards such as earthquake, landslide, tsunami, mining, oil and coastal erosion (DOGAMI). This organization too would serve beneficial in eliminating hazards that may enhance destruction by a tsunami.
- So with this in mind, how are we to educate and protect residents of coastal regions as well as un-informed tourists of the toll and devastation of tsunamis?
- First, lets begin by understanding the disaster in question. So what is a Tsunami exactly? A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor or volcanic activity (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). This is especially important along the western border of the United States being that the Pacific Ocean, also known as the Ring of Fire, is host to over 452 volcanos. About 90% of the worlds earthquakes and 81% of the worlds largest earthquakes occur along the Pacific Ring of Fire (IgeoNews, 2013).
- Volcanic Tsunamis are a possible catalyst to generating tsunami waves. Not only does the state of Oregon border the Pacific Ring of Fire, but Oregon is host to a cascade of mountains that have illustrated volcanic activity in recent years. At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted and blew down and scorched 230 square miles of forest ( United States Department of Agriculture). The devastation from the eruption of Mount St. Helens was memorable communities surrounding this mountain. Volcanic eruption is a sure factor that can initiate disruptions deep within the Earth’s crust and thus, lead to many natural disasters. Mt. Hood, a snowcapped mounted only located 50 miles East of Portland has also become a concern for it’s minor volcanic activity. The last volcanic activity on Mount Hood was in the mid 1800’s. This was a minor eruption. However, in the 1790’s, Mt. Hood experienced a massive explosion (United States Geological Survey).
- Volcanic activity can potentially generate waves that develop into a Tsunami. Volcanic tsunamis can be caused by: Caldera collapses, which resemble a collapse of land following a volcanic eruption Tectonic movement in which describes movement of the Earth’s crust. Flank failure into a water source Pyroclastic flow discharge into the sea. Pyroclastic flow is a power gust of pressure that with great force, can generate waves or even knock down forests. Approximately 5% of tsunamis are formed from volcanoes and approximately 16.9% of volcanic fatalities occur from tsunamis (Tanguy, J.C., 1988; Oregon State University et. al.). Oregon State University. (n.d.). Volcanic Tsunamis. Retrieved on April 14, 2014 from: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/tsunamis
- Another reason why tsunami Awareness and Preparedness should be initiated in the state of Oregon is earthquakes. Within the past 10 years, Oregon has had an increasing number of earthquakes. According to Earthquake track (n.d.), an earthquake has been documented for most days than not within the last 30 days. According to the United States Geological Survey, the state of Oregon has fault lines almost as old as 750,000 years old. The concern for earthquake activity alone is encouraged due to the states’ close proximity to California. This also raises the concern for whether or not Oregon shares fault lines with California. If so, the increasing magnitude of recent earthquakes in Oregon may be explained. Wikipedia. (2014). Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Retrieved on May 1, 2014 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami
- However, that’s not to say that a distant earthquake won’t have any effect along the west coast. With the unfortunate reminder of the 2004 tsunami of Indonesia, taking distant earthquakes into consideration will help the state of Oregon better protect communities situated within tsunami zones. The Oregonian. (2014). No Tsunami Threat to Pacific North West after 7.8 earthquake. Retrieved on April 20, 2014 from: http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2014/04/solomon_islands_78 _earthquake.html
- Aside from instilling earthquake drills in schools and the workplace, I also believe that tsunami drills should be established. Informing communities to seek high grounds in the event a warning is issued or if having experienced a violent earthquake on the beach. The Oregon Health Authority will serve beneficial in educating our coastal communities of the awareness as well as the necessary preparedness methods and techniques for better protection. Unfortunately, the state of Oregon does not have an official strategy for warning and evacuation methods.
- On the Oregon Health Authority Website, the organization has listed techniques in what they call Preparedness 101. This public health avenue illustrates to the community directly how to devise a preparedness plan. They encourage you to be informed by providing information about potential hazards of any particular community. They also inform how to build an emergency kit and provide tools to help families develop disaster plans. In conjunction with disaster relief programs, I believe that we can protect our communities from such a disaster and yield improved safety and prosperous communities.