Every September, communities across the country recognize September as National Preparedness Month, an initiative that encourages people to take steps to prepare for disasters before they happen. Celebrated by the FEMA Ready Campaign, this year’s theme is, “Americans Stand Ready.”
According to the campaign, the “theme reflects the spirit of unity, resilience, and resourcefulness that make our country strong. It’s a reminder that each of us can make a difference by taking proactive steps before a disaster strikes, and encouraging loved ones to do the same, Americans can contribute to the safety and security of the entire nation.”
Helping people before, during, and after disasters, FEMA reminds us that preparedness can come in many forms. In the Pacific Northwest, preparedness takes on particular importance.
With the Cascadia Subduction Zone along the Pacific Northwest Coast, Washington, Oregon, and Northern California communities should prepare for the potential of a major megathrust earthquake and tsunami. The megathrust earthquake, locals call the Big One, has the potential to be a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake with a resulting tsunami of up to 100 feet in height and is expected to last for four to seven minutes.
The scale of a Cascadia earthquake means preparedness cannot be approached with a single, one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, people need to prepare based on the hazards around them, where they live, and the resources available in their communities.
One of the first steps you can take is developing a plan for being self-sufficient after a major disaster. Preparedness resources like the “Be 2 Weeks Ready” tool kit provide a comprehensive guide that contains multiple unit lessons to provide important information on natural disaster preparedness. The units include information on planning, food, water, shelter, first-aid, and emergency management.
You should also think beyond emergency supplies. A preparedness plan should also include procedures on communication, meeting places, evacuation routes, and understanding the needs of children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets.
The goal is not predicting exactly what will happen. Instead, preparedness helps households respond and sustain themselves when normal systems and routines are disrupted.
However, household preparedness is only one part of the picture. Second, individuals should customize their preparedness plans based on their location and any proximity to secondary hazards.
For example, in the event of the Big One, coastal communities may become isolated due to landslides, liquefaction, and damaged infrastructure. People within these communities can best prepare for the event by understanding what vulnerabilities their communities are prone to because of their location and proximity to the ocean.
This makes local knowledge an important part of preparedness.
Residents should learn about the hazards specific to their area and identify the information and resources available through their state, county, and local emergency-management agencies. For people living in tsunami hazard zones, that can include understanding evacuation maps and routes.
Inland communities may face different combinations of hazards and disruptions. However, understanding these differences allows preparedness plans to move beyond a generic emergency kit and address the conditions people are actually likely to encounter.
Lastly, communities can best prepare for the Big One by talking about preparedness as a community. A major Cascadia earthquake could halt transportation, electricity, water systems, communications, and other infrastructure across a wide area. In the immediate aftermath, emergency services might not be able to reach every person at once. Therefore, neighbors, communities, and individuals should talk about preparation, and prepare with one another.
The next Cascadia earthquake event cannot be predicted, and its exact impacts cannot be known in advance, but communities can use existing research, local hazard information, and preparedness resources to better understand what they may face. Being prepared for the Big One is not about predicting the future, but is about understanding the risk we already know about and taking the necessary steps to make communities more resilient when the next major disaster event occurs.
As National Preparedness Month comes to an end, it’s important to remember the signs. To put preparation into action, register for the upcoming Great ShakeOut on October 15th. Preparedness starts here. Join in on the conversation and get ready for the shake out.
For more information on how to be prepared, consider the following resources:
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