Seismic Shift – Part 3: State officials warn of Oregon’s insufficient quake and tsunami preparedness
Salem, Ore (KTVZ) -- As Oregon prepares for the long-anticipated Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, state officials and experts warn that the region remains underprepared for the resulting tsunami and large-scale evacuations expected along the coast.
While some progress has been made, authorities say gaps persist in evacuation planning and infrastructure resilience, especially west of the Cascades.
“I think that Oregon is certainly not as well prepared as they could be here at the coast,” Rep. David Gomberg, D-Lincoln County, said. “We're taking steps now and I think we're better prepared than most Oregonians but across the state, I think people are not as prepared as they need to be.”
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, said inland communities should expect major population movement following the disaster.
“I think that, especially in relation to Central Oregon, what you'll see is a large number of refugees and evacuees trying to find safe ground,” Evans said.
State officials note that evacuation alerts and notifications are managed at the county level, a system that could become strained as residents flee east.
Patence Winningham of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management said communities must prepare to provide food, water and fuel to people expected to migrate from the heavily impacted western portion of the state.
Onno Husing of Lincoln County Planning & Development warned that many transportation routes may be cut off.
“We will have islands,” Husing said. “The routes to the valley everybody talks about getting people out of here. Yeah. Well how? Because a lot of these highways when Cascadia rips out, it’s going to devastate the I-5 corridor as well.”
Kacey Davey of the Oregon Department of Transportation said ODOT crews and inspectors continue working to stabilize slopes, tunnels and bridges to keep vital corridors open after a major quake.
In Sisters, Mayor Jennifer Letz said the community could face significant congestion as evacuees move inland.
“We certainly have the potential to be a logjam here,” Letz said. “We have three state highways that congeal into one over Santiam Pass, and then feed directly into Sisters before they can be kinda spread out to other communities.”
Scientists agree a major Cascadia earthquake is a matter of when, not if. Oregon’s ability to withstand and recover from such an event, officials say, will depend on the strength of its infrastructure and the readiness of its communities to support evacuees and maintain critical resources.
KTVZ News presents Seismic Shift, a special four-part series exploring how Central Oregon is connected to — and preparing for — the next major tsunami event along the Oregon Coast.
Part One: Lee Anderson sets the stage, explaining the science behind a potential tsunami and why experts say it’s a matter of when, not if.
Part Two: Claire Elmer takes us to the coast to show how communities and researchers are preparing for the inevitable.
Part Three: Spencer Sacks investigates what would happen next — how mass evacuation and infrastructure challenges would impact Central Oregon.
Part Four: Jillian Fortner highlights Deschutes County’s efforts to prepare as a safe haven, including new emergency operations and response planning.
