By Nancy Hiser
Yumei Wang, (pronounced “Wong”), recently addressed 500 Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) members at an online presentation called “Cascadia Earthquakes: From Science to Safety.” Wang is Senior Advisor on Infrastructure Resilience and Risk at Portland State University and was formerly employed by Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) where she wrote multiple articles on earthquake resilience.
Impacts—injuries, financial, and downtime—were presented in the Oregon Resilience Plan of 2013 and subsequent DOGAMI reports. Critical services (fuel, water, wastewater, electricity, highway, communication, schools, fire, police, and healthcare) have one to 36-month month timetables to return to functional levels in Oregon. Wang explained that the season and time of day of an earthquake will predict the severity. In winter, the saturated ground will result in more ground failure—landslides, liquefaction—which will impact transportation and power recovery. In daytime, when people are working, casualties will be higher. “Will we all die? No!”
For this presentation, Wang and her colleague John Bauer, looked at each Portland neighborhood, computing the soil structure and building composition to predict the number and severity of injuries and financial impact of building loss. According to their data, Linnton may have 21-50 deaths or serious injuries.
The difference between a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and one of lesser magnitude is the strength and the length of time of the shaking. A Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, which may last for minutes compared with the seconds of more common smaller quakes, will cause greater damage related to the length of shaking.
While the gas and electric companies have invested in safer and more resilient systems, the petroleum industry has not. Wang stated that without legislation, the tank farms won’t invest in mitigation—and it’s imperative that legislation is enacted this year.
Risk reduction technologies are being explored. The fuel supply chain is being evaluated. The long road to resilience involves people who will be prepared and able to assist their neighbors. Preparation includes at least 2 weeks of food and water storage and survival equipment. Education is key to your safety.
We support you to support your neighborhood. Please join us at online NET meeting. We value your contributions.
Email nancyhiser@comcast.net