A recent national news article suggesting that everything in Oregon west of Interstate-5 \u201cwould be toast\u201d in a major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake certainly drew attention to the seismic reality facing the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n
The concern, though, is that people are focusing on the most draconian or extreme scenarios, experts say, which can lead to a sense of fatalism. The reaction illustrates the state of earthquake and tsunami preparedness \u2013 or lack thereof \u2013 in the United States, said Patrick Corcoran, Oregon Sea Grant’s Astoria-based coastal hazards specialist, who works with coastal communities on disaster preparedness.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a matter of feast or famine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Cascadia Subduction Zone has shifted from a science project to a social studies project,\u201d Corcoran said. \u201cWe need to find a sweet spot between fear and action. What I try to do is temper the tendency of people to toggle between the poles of \u2018it won\u2019t happen here\u2019 and \u2018it will be so bad that there\u2019s no use worrying about it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
(Read the entire story from OSU News & Research Communication<\/a> to learn how Corcoran and other OSU faculty are working with the state and coastal communities to prepare people, communities and infrastructure for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami).<\/p>\n Earthquake and tsunami preparedness material from Oregon Sea Grant:<\/strong><\/p>\n A recent national news article suggesting that everything in Oregon west of Interstate-5 \u201cwould be toast\u201d in a major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake certainly drew attention to the seismic reality facing the Pacific Northwest. The concern, though, is that people … Continue reading Learn more<\/h3>\n
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