Opinion
Oregon Coast Disasters: Past - Present - Future
As we lick our wounds from the December 2007 wind storm we take personal inventory of what went well and what did not. One thing that seemed to go very well was the kindness of friends and strangers and the sense of community that was re-enhanced during this very trying time.
Most everyone was caught unintentionally with their pants down in one way or another; be it not having enough food, batteries, or fuel. Having lived in an area where power goes out for three days at a time a couple times every winter I was prepared as well as I usual am, but I too wasn’t totally prepared. My chain saw wasn’t operational, I didn’t have any ply wood in the event a window was broken and I still don’t own a generator.
Hopefully people are now preparing themselves for the next big one, stocking up on items to help them survive for a couple weeks of disaster, but let’s consider the next disaster isn’t wind or rain or fire. Let’s consider a big Tsunami.
A major Tsunami will be a hundred times worse than the events of the December 07 Wind Storm. Consider the beacons that shone when the storm was over. We listened to the news on KAST. Fred Meyer and Safeway opened with generator power to service our provisions. Those who were unprepared needed food and fuel.
Oddly KAST along with most all the fuel stations and grocery stores in our county will become overcome if there is a 50 foot tsunami. Fred Meyer and Costco are built in a swamp. Safeway is alongside the Columbia. Safeway in Seaside is probably only fifteen feet above sea level. Same goes for Gearhart and Cannon Beach. Most of the commercial infrastructure in the county is less than 50 feet above sea level. Columbia Memorial Hospital isn’t that high in altitude, so Providence Seaside could be the only medical center available. Astoria and Seaside airports are located in marsh land.
Knappa, Olney and Jewell will be the only places that should be safe however a tsunami will take out roads and bridges as well. Most homes in Astoria are at a safe elevation, but how difficult will it be to live for two weeks or a month without any surviving infrastructure in the lower elevations.
This is a good time to prepare for what could come next. Having lived through the bomb shelter era of the sixties, I’m finding wisdom in having a lot of emergency supplies. Though bomb shelters and fallout shelters were abandoned, the survival techniques they championed were resurrected for the looming Y2K catastrophe that was envisioned.
Be it a political, economic, technological or natural disaster on the next horizon, you’ll sleep better knowing you are prepared to survive it. While you are at it, pack a little extra for those who don’t have your foresight to prepare for them selves. If it will make you feel better think of it as preparing to go winter camping for a month.
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5 Comments
On Apr 8, 7:34 AM, RBiddlecome wrote:
The Seaside School District is trying to figure out a solution to this as well. Cannon Beach Elementary is right next to the beach, and Gearhart is not much better, same with Seaside High School. Broadway Middle School would be hit next. Analysts say that even Seaside Elementary would be in danger during a Tsunami, and it used to be a go to place. Doug Dougherty (Superintendent) is trying to work on land swap that would put all the Seaside Schools into a Safe zone, along with a community center.
On Apr 8, 3:10 PM, Were you aware? wrote:
That Gearhart Elementary doesn’t even have simple walkie talkies for the staff to have, so that in the event of a disaster, those needing to be rescued can actually be located? Even if the cell phones and power are out? Seems to me that the PTA should make sure that each classroom and staff member has these rechargeable units available to them, so they can contact each other after they’ve run for their lives.
On Apr 8, 3:28 PM, Name (required) wrote:
I could be wrong, but I think the Tsunami threat to the immediate Astoria area is overstated. People naturally tend to superimpose an Indian Ocean ‘04 type event on the town but the geography, both off shore and inshore, just isnt the same.
Some areas down the coast? Yes, the historical-geological record shows where the obvious hazardous areas lie. But in Astoria, in my estimation, you would be much more likely to suffer property damage and have your life threatened by an earthquake than a seismic event induced monster wave crashing over lower Desdemona and heading upriver to destroy everything in it’s path. Anything is possible, though, I suppose.
On Apr 8, 3:58 PM, Guy wrote:
From what I understand we are due for a 500 year event and/or a severe drop. Our ground has been rising. If you drive over to the Washington side up around South Bend you can see trees that were killed by a drop by the last 500 year event. High and dry one day and under water on the next. Also a good quake could turn all the sand into a liquifactious mess. I was in Cannon Beach on one end of town one day and I could feel the ground move under foot from a heavy truck coming down Hemlock that was close to a quarter mile away. The ground seemed to move in a wave.
All I’m saying is we need to be prepared. We’ve had a taste of something that could be much worse had it been something other than wind. Stock up on fuel and canned goods. If you live below 50’ in elevation, keep a boat by the back door.
On Apr 8, 6:23 PM, No Name (required) wrote:
On Apr 8, 2:58 PM, Guy wrote:
All I’m saying is we need to be prepared....
Oh absolutely....the big one will come some day-no doubt.