March 31. 2010
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Page 7
Earthquake Dangers in Our Backyard
Time to plan for
disaster is now
R ebekah B elle
T he P ortland O bserver
by
Really big earthquakes in densely
populated areas don’t happen often
enough for everybody to learn by
experience, especially here in Port­
land where the dangers for earth­
quakes are high but the frequency
o f earthquakes are low.
Surviving an earthquake and re­
ducing its health impact requires
preparation, planning, and practice.
Far in advance, you can gather emer­
gency supplies, identify and reduce
the Klamath Falls area and may
threaten the coast from Coos Bay
south to Brookings.
The amount o f earthquake dam­
age will depend on its distance from
the epicenter, local soil conditions,
and types o f construction.
Buildings constructed in Oregon
prior to the 1990s were built to lower
seismic standards and are especially
at risk o f collapse or structural fail­
ure during an earthquake. Discov­
eries about great earthquakes, such
as the recent disasters in Chile and
Haiti, also help convince public of­
ficials and corporate executives to
strengthen dams, bridges, water
systems, schools, and factories in
a heavy light fixture that could fall, a tsunam i by a sounding a steady diately inland to high ground.
so move to a safe place.
3-m inute siren blast. But in iso­
For m ore inform ation on earth­
Use a doorway for shelter only if lated areas along beaches and quake preparedness and other di­
it is in close proximity to you and bays you may not hear a warning. sasters, visit fem a.gov/hazard/
you know it is a strongly supported, Here, a sudden change o f sea level earthquake or call 1-800-621-
load-bearing doorway.
should prom pt you to move imme- FEM A(3362).
Stay inside until shaking stops
and it is safe to go outside. Most
injuries occur from falling objects
when entering or exiting build­
ings.
Be aware that electricity may go
out or the sprinkler systems or fire
alarms may turn on during an earth­
quake. Do not use the elevators.
If y o u ’re outside when the earth
shakes, you should step away
from buildings, streetlights and
N/NE Minority
Youth And Young
Adults Being
Connected
Calendar of Events
To register for an event or for more information: Please
contact Tiara at 503-281 -0224
Meet at OAME building (between Mason and Williams)
4134 N. Vancouver Ave
Spring Events 2010
Let’s Connect Session- Tuesdays
April 13th 2010 -Spring Kickoff
April 24th garden work out
May 11th- connect session
June 19th - Juneteenth Garden
Announcem ents-
Students receive a community service letter
for their participation and Stipend
Get involved and be involved. It’s All about the GREEN TEAM!
Notice ofTriMet Public Hearings
Share your comments on proposed
service cuts and fare increase
A historic photograph from the Oregonian shows the destruction caused by an earth­
quake-caused tsunami at Seaside on March 28, 1964. The house was 4,000 feet
from the shore.
possible hazards in your home, and
practice what to do during and after
an earthquake.
Geologic research tells scientists
that Oregon some day will experi­
ence a catastrophic earthquake.
Scientists cannot predict whether
the big one might occur in 200 years
or the next hour. Because we are
poorly prepared, the damage could
be great.
On the Oregon Coast, the danger
doubles with the risk o f tsunamis,
giant waves caused by earthquakes
that cab reach the coastal communi­
ties within minutes. When the waves
enter shallow water, they can rise to
devastating force.
The seismology lab at the Uni­
versity o f W ashington records
roughly 1,000 earthquakes per year
in Washington and Oregon. Local
earthquakes are most common in
the Portland metropolitan area, the
northern Willamette Valley area and
the Pacific Northwest.
What to do during a quake can be
confusing. Surviving an earthquake
and reducing its health impact re­
quires preparation, planning, and
practice. Far in advance, you can
gather emergency supplies, iden­
tify and reduce possible hazards in
your home, and practice what to do
during and after an earthquake.
During an earthquake, you’re
advised to minimize your movements
by taking a few steps to a safe place.
If you are indoors that can mean
taking cover under a sturdy desk,
table or against an inside wall, and
holding on. If you cannot take cover,
cover your head and crouch in an
inside com er o f the building.
Stay away from glass, windows,
outside doors and walls, and any­
thing that could fall. Stay in bed if
you are there when the earthquake
strikes. Hold on and protect your
head with a pillow. If you are under
utility wires. And if y o u ’re in a
m oving vehicle, you should stop
as quickly as safety perm its and
stay in the vehicle. Avoid stop­
ping near or under buildings,
tree s, o v e rp a sse s, and u tility
wires.
If trapped under debris, do not
light a match. Do not move about
or kick up dust. Cover your mouth
with a handkerchief or clothing.
You can tap on a pipe or wall so
rescuers can locate you, but shout
only as a last resort. Shouting can
cause you to inhale dangerous
am ounts o f dust.
A tsunam i on the Oregon Coast
could come onshore within 15 to
20 m inutes after a local earth­
quake— w hile a d istan t earth ­
quake could create a tsunam i that
will take four hours or more to
come onshore.
Some coast com m unities will
signal the need for evacuation for
Due to the weak economy, TriMet
is facing a $27 million budget
shortfall that requires a 5 percent
cut in administrative programs and
services plus cuts to bus and MAX
service. In February, we proposed
reductions to bus and MAX service
and a five-cent fare increase, to
be effective in September. After
reviewing more than 1,000 public
comments, some of the proposed
cuts have been restored in order to
keep riders’ connections to jobs and
other services; additional changes
have been made to other lines.
We also are exploring potential
changes to WES.
Summary of
revised proposal
3 bus lines would be discontin­
ued: 27-Market/Main, 65-Mar-
quam Hill/Barbur Blvd, 157-Happy
Valley
6 bus lines would have changes
to weekend hours of operation:
32-Oatfield, 35-Macadam/Gree-
ley*, 45-Garden Home, 58-Canyon
Rd, 73-NE 33rd*, 155-Sunnyside
4 bus lines would have significant
changes to weekday frequency
and/oT hours of operation:
51-Vista, 58-Canyon Rd, 73-NE
33rd*, 154-Willamette*
MAX and various other bus lines
would have reductions in route,
frequency and/or hours of
operation. Read the complete
service cut proposal at trim et.org.
TriMet is holding three public
hearings on the proposed changes:
Tuesday, April 6,4:30-6:30 p.m.
Clackamas Community College
Oregon City Campus, McLoughlin
Auditorium , 19600 Mollala Ave.,
Oregon City, OR 97045
Wednesday, April 7,4:30-6:30 p.m.
Portland Building Auditorium ,
Second Floor, 1120 SW 5th Ave.,
Portland, OR 97204
Thursday, April 8,4:30-6:30 p.m.
Portland Adventist Academy,
Library, 1500 SE 96th Ave.,
Portland, OR 97216
How to contact us
Comments w ill be accepted
through Friday, April 23, 2010,
5 p.m. by the following:
Web: trimet.org/feedback
Comment line: 503-962-5806
Fax: 503-962-6469
Mail: TriMet-MK2,4012 SE 17th
Ave., Portland, OR 97202
TTY: 503-238-5811 (7:30 a m. to
5:30 p.m. weekdays)
For com munication assistance at a
meeting, call 503-238-RIDE (7433)
or TTY 503-238-5811 (7:30 a m. to
5:30 p.m. weekdays) at least 48
hours in advance of the meeting.
‘Changes effective June 6. 2010
T R I @ M E T