October 23, 2015 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 9A
Vulnerable bridges gain attention from city
Tsunami threat
requires bridge
replacement
By Dani Palmer
Cannon Beach Gazette
Bent over maps during
a work session Oct. 15,
Cannon Beach Emergen-
cy Preparedness Commit-
tee members and Public
Works Director Dan Grass-
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which option would be best
for ensuring safe crossing
at the north end of town in
case of an earthquake and
tsunami.
Because of the likeli-
hood of a bridge collapse
over Ecola Creek, the city’s
evacuation map guides res-
idents and visitors south,
toward midtown. It’s a lon-
ger route that could eat up
valuable time, Committee
Vice Chairman Les Wier-
son said.
OBEC Consulting En-
gineers conducted a bridge
study in 2011, warning the
Fir Street bridge at Ecola
Creek is “vulnerable to fail-
ure” even in a “relatively
small earthquake” because
of its age and construction.
“Saving lives is my top
priority,” Committee Chair-
CANNON BEACH HISTORY CENTER/SUBMITTED PHOTO
A bridge is out during the 1964 tsunami.
woman Karolyn Adamson
said.
The committee took a
closer look at the options,
which are replacing the cur-
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ing a pedestrian bridge ei-
ther nearby or in a different
location.
Whatever the commit-
tee decides, Grassick said,
75-foot-deep piling would
likely be needed because of
sand liquefaction.
The committee focused
on pedestrian alternatives as
they’re the most affordable,
and leaned toward a bridge
over Ecola Creek near Ne-
Cus’ Park. It would actually
be two bridges meeting on
a small island in the creek,
providing solid ground to
build on.
A nearby option would
require more costly permits
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creek, Grassick said.
The third pedestrian op-
tion would lead people up
Second Street before hitting
a trail yet-to-be-built con-
necting to Highway 101.
According to the 2011
study, replacement of the
existing bridge would cost
Stickers, new signs provide crucial info
route maps last year and is
working on deploying them
now. They’ve been revised
with 2013 Oregon Depart-
ment of Geology and Min-
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study information.
The revisions are minor,
but take some areas out of
the hazard zone. They’re
not based on “exact or hard
science,” though, Grass-
ick added. Tsunami waves
could be larger than pre-
dicted.
“You get as high and far
as you can,” he said. “Don’t
stop running. The further
you can get from the beach,
the better and safer you’re
going to be.”
In Tolovana Park, city
staff have added four new
signs to beach accesses
since last fall, along with
upgraded staircases.
Those evacuation route
maps aren’t only useful in
case of an emergency, but
add a level of convenience
for tourists and new resi-
dents.
“A lot of people use the
maps for getting around
town,” Grassick said with
a chuckle.
All 10 Cannon Beach
tsunami evacuation pedes-
trian route maps have been
updated based on the latest
information from the state
By Dani Palmer
EO Media Group
In a coastal community
like Cannon Beach, know-
ing where you are is imper-
ative in case of an earth-
quake or tsunami.
For most residents, that
isn’t a problem. But for the
thousands of visitors who
swarm the coast each year,
it’s good information.
Throughout
Clatsop
County, local agencies
have been adding new
signs or stickers to existing
signage pointing out “You
are here.”
Cannon Beach Public
Works Director Dan Gras-
sick said the city has made
reference to landmark Hay-
stack Rock in some of its
maps to help visitors out.
Michaela Jackson, a
visitor to the coast from
Denver, said she’s heard
about Oregon’s earthquake
threat, but wouldn’t know
where to go.
“I think a lot of people
would just book it for the
hills or follow the crowd,”
she said. “Some probably
wouldn’t even realize the
danger at all. I think the
maps are a good thing to
pay attention to.”
Cannon Beach began
updating its evacuation
how to see abusive patterns
they will be better prepared
for current and future re-
lationships. The program
“Help Ending Abusive
Relationship Tendencies”
covers subjects related to
the effects of domestic vi-
olence on children, parents
Chief Balzer removed
due to ‘personnel matter’
Balzer from Page 1A
Cannon Beach to raise
their three daughters. He
was a building contractor
until 1999 before working
for the police department
for more than a decade.
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chief in February 2012,
taking over from Cleve
Rooper, who had served
as chief since 1989.
Balzer led the district
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sures over severe drought
seasons and served on the
Cannon Beach Emergency
Preparedness Committee.
His department responded
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destroyed the Bistro Restau-
rant and Bar.
Under his and the Or-
egon Department of For-
estry’s direction, the city
of Cannon Beach closed
Ecola Creek Forest Reserve
because of the dry weather
around the Fourth of July.
He brought new equipment
to the district, including a
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volunteer events such as De-
cember’s American Legion
holiday toy and food drive.
Dining on the
North Coast
DANI PALMER/CANNON BEACH GAZETTE
New stickers show the Haystack Rock icon to guide people
in an emergency.
of Oregon. These maps can
be downloaded from the
city webpage, www.ci.can-
non-beach.or.us/communi-
ty/evacuationmaps. They
may also be purchased at
Copies and Fax, 171 Sunset
Blvd., for a nominal cost.
Harbor classes teach how domestic violence aff ects us all
Every Wednesday, 10 to
11:30 a.m. at The Harbor,
1361 Duane St. in Astoria,
offers a 10-week class start-
ing Oct. 21.
Domestic violence af-
fects everyone residing in a
household and if victims of
domestic violence can learn
$4.8 million while a 6-foot-
wide pedestrian bridge could
cost up to $1.6 million.
If Cannon Beach does
go with a pedestrian bridge,
Grassick said, there are the
options of a suspension
or truss bridge. The latter
would more likely sur-
vive, he added, as cables
can break with suspension
bridges.
Wierson again suggest-
ed taking a closer look
at Washington County’s
bridge standards as they are
designed to withstand earth-
quakes.
“The structural aspect is
big,” Grassick said. He add-
ed the bridge would need to
be at least 10 feet wide with
1,000 people crossing it.
An Oregon State Univer-
sity engineering professor
made computer models of
potential evacuation routes
in the city in 2011, esti-
mating at least 1,080 peo-
ple would head toward the
bridge on a typical summer
day after an earthquake.
Grassick said there are
a number of ways to fund
the bridge, including grants
such as the Predisaster Mit-
igation Grant, sharing costs
with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, and
the Connect Oregon grant.
Committee
members
agreed they would seek a
bond measure if grants don’t
provide the money needed.
“To do this project, to get
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geotech study needs to be
done,” Grassick added.
The committee will have
to go through the City Coun-
cil before taking any further
steps. The topic could be re-
viewed this month.
and other family members.
Members discuss the dy-
namics of power and con-
trol and how to recognize
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reserve a spot at 503-325-
3426, ext.103; toll-free cri-
sis line, 877-770-5735.
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