Earthquake Reminds NW Residents of Risk, and Importance of Emergency Preparedness

New site offers many ideas on how to make your home and family safer in the event of a natural disaster.

Is your house good to go in the event of an earthquake? Image courtesy:

(VANCOUVER, Wa.) - With National Preparedness Month in September just around the corner, one might think that Thursday's early morning earthquake event was staged, if that was possible. A new coalition of public and private organizations has been working to promote National Preparedness Month activities through a new website, www.preparetogether.org.

The web site went live on August 1st to emphasize the importance of emergency preparedness to the public. The timing of the earthquake was both coincidental and convenient for getting the word out about the need for emergency preparedness.

Although the minor ground shaking in the wee hours was startling to some area residents, it came as no surprise to officials at Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency in Vancouver.

Scientists have long warned that the region is due for an 8.0 to 9.0 Magnitude quake in the West Coast's Cascadia Subduction Zone. "But this wasn't the ‘Big One'", points out Deborah Needham, one of several Emergency Management Coordinators with CRESA. "This was a minor earthquake, sort of a polite reminder of our region's earthquake risk. For those who haven't done it yet, what a great reason to get your household together, make a plan, and build an emergency kit together."

Links to recommendations on emergency planning and 72-hour kits are available at www.preparetogether.org. Several events posted for September and October also offer locations where citizens can go to learn what to do and what not to do in an earthquake or other emergency.

John Talbot, Assistant Director of CRESA, is thankful that most of those who were jolted awake by the earthquake recognized that 9-1-1 was not the appropriate number to call to talk about the earthquake.

Unfortunately, over 200 callers flooded the 9-1-1 center in Clark County with calls in the first few minutes following the tremor. "9-1-1 is not an information line, and 9-1-1 does not need to be told that we just had an earthquake", says Talbot. "If you felt it, we felt it. We need to keep the lines open for people with real emergencies."

Instead, he suggests using the U.S. Geological Survey's web page at pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/shake/pnw/ to report an earthquake and get up-to-date information about it. Damage for this specific earthquake is being documented by CRESA at cresa@clark.wa.gov.