Oregon’s largest coastal earthquake drill held in Newport

LINCOLN , Ore. (KPTV) – On Wednesday, state and local leaders in Lincoln County gathered to give an inside look at how the state is poised for what they’re calling ‘Oregon’s largest coastal earthquake preparedness exercise.’

Representatives say a potential Cascadia earthquake could be catastrophic.

“The first 4 – 5 minutes 20,000 people can be gone. 250,000 to 300,000 the first three weeks because, think about it, slowly the bridges are gone. Transportation is gone. How to get food and shelter,” said state Rep. Paul Evans.

The event was made possible by funding from the Oregon Department of Human Services, state legislators, Lincoln County, and ODHS’ Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Resilience and Emergency Management.

A ‘dress rehearsal’ of what an emergency evacuation assembly point would look like after a seismic event was at the Newport Municpal Airport.

This evacuation point consists of multiple tents that can house up to 100 people for two weeks. Along with meals, showers, and a medical tent.

ODHA says this not just a shelter, but a transition place to help those with injuries, the elderly, or those who are ill.

“when a major event lands here, we’re gonna be looking at 100,000 people. Having the capacity here to assemble people and to move them to a safer local is going to be critically important,” said state Rep. David Gomberg.

At a cost of $500,000 a second location is placed at Tillamook Municipal Airport.

ODHA says being located at an airport makes it easy for people to go east for resources.

To ensure your family is quake-ready , Lincoln County says to have a ‘go-kit’ ready at home.

“Think about non-perishable food items. If that’s canned, you’re gonna want can opener. We encourage people to have comfort items for their kids and themselves medication,” said Emergency Manager Samantha Buckley.

State Rep. Gomberg had his own experience during a fire evacuation with his family. He says having a plan is critical.

“Part of that plan also has to be, where do you go? How do you communicate? How do you connect? Where do you gather and where do you go next?” said Gomberg. “If we didn’t have a plan that day, we wouldn’t have had the time we needed to save ourselves.”

A third location in Coquille is in progress, with hope for even more in the future.

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