Earthquake concern: Central Oregon will be vital location if ‘Big One’ hits

(Update: Adding video, comments by earthquake experts)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- The recent 7.0 earthquake that struck off the Northern California coast is reminding many residents along the West Coast of the impending 'Big One' expected to hit within the next 50 years. State officials predict the earthquake would kill nearly 250,000 people and cause up to a million to leave the west side of Oregon.

According to officials, Oregon has the potential to be hit with a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the next 50 years because of the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Pressure continues to build on Pacific fault lines and seismic activity is spiking this year, with activity reported at Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams in southern Washington.

Oregon State University geology professor Andrew Meigs said Monday, "From the information that I have seen, the impacts from that earthquake that's so frightening for the coast will have, relatively little direct impact on the region east of the Cascades."

Meigs says Central Oregon will feel little if an earthquake strikes from the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the fault line beginning from northern California and extending to southern British Columbia.

Seismologist and professor Chris Goldfinger says last week's earthquake is no sign of the 'Big One.': "This earthquake was one of many. There've been about seven or eight of these earthquakes of this size or larger in the last 100 years or so. So they're not super-common, but they're not super-rare either."

While the area might not feel the quake, Meigs says the aftermath will be felt east of the Cascades. According to the state's emergency management blueprint, the Bend-Redmond area is designated as the state's hub for emergency operations.

Deschutes County continues to work on emergency plans in the wake of a major Cascadia earthquake, including the Redmond Airport, which will serve as the state's biggest transportation location for emergency supplies. 

"That important role that, transportation corridors, functioning airports, unaffected highways, and others have for moving emergency relief, towards the affected region," he said.

Central Oregon is also home to many volcanoes past their eruption schedule, though Meigs says the predictability of a volcano erupting from an earthquake is difficult.

"It's far more uncertain than knowing when the next earthquake occurs as to whether or not a volcano, such as Three Sisters or Pilot Butte or Lava Butte or any of the local volcanoes would be affected," Meigs added.

Meigs is also part of the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT), whose goal is to provide more information on earthquake hazards and better prepare specialists and decision-makers.

The city of Bend does sit on top of fault lines, but Meigs says the possibility of one hitting is too unpredictable.