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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
30 Wednesday,February10,2016The Nugget Newspaper,Sisters,Oregon Megaquake: Quakecouldhappen atanytime Continued from page 1 the Sisters-Camp Sherman RuralFireProtectionDistrict. Dr.McKaydetailedthegeo- logicalandhistoricalrecord thatdetailsthe1700full-rip earthquake,anddescribedthe effects such a quake would haveinmodernOregon. The effects, as can be imagined, would be cata- strophic on the coast, with massive damage from the shaking and from a likely tsunami,whichwouldproba- blyinundatemanylow-lying areas. Emergency planners on the coast have identified rallying points and tsunami evacuation routes for the immediate aftermath of the quake,buttheeffectswould belong-lasting,withamas- siverescueandreliefeffort required to rescue and/or supply and sustain isolated populationsalongthecoast. Effects would be felt far inland,withsignificantdam- ageintheWillametteValley. Depending on the time of year,amegaquakecouldtrig- germultiplemajorlandslides that could cut off highways throughtheCoastRangeand theCascades. And many of the state’s highway bridges would be rendered unusable — either heavily damaged or collapsed. For Central Oregon, it is this disruption of transportationandtheripple effectsofdamageelsewhere that will be the most sig- nificanteffectofafull-scale Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Directdamagefromshak- ing is likely to be minor, accordingtoDr.McKay.But thepeopleofSistersCountry are not insulated from the effects. JackMcGowanofSisters has been a long-time advo- cateofemergencyprepared- nessandservesontheboard of directors for Oregon Public Broadcasting, which recently broadcast a major seriesonthemegaquakesce- nariotitled“Unprepared.” J i m C u n n i n g h a m o f Sisters is the former com- mander of the Oregon Air NationalGuardand,assuch, was recently briefed on the latestemergencyplansforthe aftermathofamegaquake. He describes the plan- ningas“apunch-listofmis- sions”thatareexpectedtobe needed in the first 14 days afteracatastrophicquake. “The first two weeks is goingtobethetoughestpor- tion,”hesaid.“Thisislikea playbook.” Bothurgelocalresidents to prioritize their personal emergencypreparedness(see related column, page 18). C u n n i n g h a m a n d McGowanagreethatdisrup- tion of the fragile network ofmodernlifeistheareato focusoninSistersCountry. “Our fuel supply will be immediately cut off,” McGowan said, noting that 90 percent of Central Oregon’s fuel comes from a depot in Portland that will almost certainly sus- tainsignificantdamageina megaquake. Damage to roads and bridges may make it dif- ficult to deliver food sup- plies to local markets.And electrical power may be disrupted or shut down for an extended period of time. Therehasbeensomecon- cern expressed that Central Oregon might be inundated with refugees. Sgt. Nathan Garibay of the Deschutes CountySheriff’sOfficetold firstrespondersduringtheir December training that it is unlikely that many peo- ple would be able to reach CentralOregonevenifthey desiredtodoso,atleastnot immediately. Roads will be damaged—andprobablybe closedtoeastboundtrafficto enablewhathelpcanbesent from the east to get to the hard-hit western part of the state. However, he said, “I think we have to plan for some degree of displaced population coming into our communities.” Garibayalsoemphasized thatpowerwillbedisrupted. “We’re planning for at least seven days here locally,”hesaid. If the quake happens in themiddleofwinter,asthe 1700 quake did, that could leave many local residents withouttheirmainsourceof heat.Andelectricalpoweris vital to keeping water sup- pliesflowing,too. Butpowermaynotbethe mostcriticalissue. What should local folks preparefor? quakevictims. Being prepared means you are not a burden on badly stretched emergency personnel. Both men are quick to point out that preparedness does not mean bunkering- up and hunkering down. Carrying on will require neighborlysupport. “Ifyouareprepared,you canoffersupporttoothers,” McGowansaid. Thatmeanshavingasup- plyofwater,food(forpetsas wellashumans),cookingand heatingcapabilityandasup- plyofvitalmedications(see story, page 31). Afull-ripquakealongthe Cascadia Subduction Zone couldhappentoday—orit couldhappen50yearsfrom now. There is no reason to live in fear of even such a catastrophic natural disas- ter — especially if you are preparedandknowthatyou andyourneighborsandyour community are ready to weatherthestorm. I think the two biggest issues are going to be water and fuel. — Jim Cunningham “I think the two biggest issuesaregoingtobewater and fuel,” Cunningham said. 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