The Beacon THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND SINCE 1935 November 5, 2015 • Volume 118 • Issue 9 • upbeacon.com
Are we prepared? Scientists predict an 8.8-9.0 earthquake to hit the Northwest within the next 50 years, professor Bob Butler urges UP to ramp up preparations
Photo illustration by Nate Devaughn and Hannah Baade.
By Luke Loranger THE BEACON Ask anyone from the Olympia area if they remember the 2001 Nisqually earthquake and they will respond with wide eyes and a long winded story explaining what they were doing when the earthquake hit. How could they forget? For years following the earthquake, sections of the sidewalk in Olympia were so damaged that jagged peaks formed in the pavement. But this earthquake was relatively small compared to the Cascadia Earthquake that is predicted to hit the Pacific Northwest region within the next 50 years. Most predictions surrounding the 8.8–9.0 magnitude Cascadia earthquake state that water, food and gas will be limited for an extended period of time. The Cascadia Region Working Group estimates that it could
be months before all running water is returned to normal and days before electricity and natural gas return to “inland locations.” After the earthquake occurs, major roadways will be impassable and the PDX airport will be entirely out of commision. Are buildings at UP at risk? The biggest fear for many is the safety of buildings, including dorm and academic buildings on The Bluff and much of downtown Portland. Many old buildings on The Bluff have not been retrofitted in case of an earthquake, a problem that’s not unique to UP. “Every university, company, city and county is playing catch up,” Robert Butler, earthquake expert and geophysics professor, said. “All institutions should evaluate which buildings are least earthquake resistant. (This should start) at the dorms.”
These include places such as Shipstad Hall, which has not seen renovations since it was built in 1967. The buildings that have been retrofitted occurred after a major renovation, like those that occurred in the Clark Library or the Bauccio Commons. “Unreinforced masonry will not do well in an earthquake. An example of this would be Howard Hall,” Butler said. “Howard Hall was built to the construction methods of the time. Nobody had a clue that we had the degree of earthquake hazard in the Pacific Northwest that we now know we have.” Butler said he would like to see the University make a commitment to earthquake resilience, and believes safety measures could be drastically improved within the next 25 years. In addition, the majority of the brick buildings in downtown Portland do not
have reinforcement, meaning they will crumble if the predicted earthquake occurs. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, in the event of an earthquake, more than 50 percent of the bridges in Oregon are “likely to collapse or be taken or potentially be taken out of use.” How will UP react following an earthquake? According to environmental officer for Public Safety, Jeff Rook, the first priority for UP after a major earthquake will be to treat the injured and assess whether buildings can be reoccupied. The Chiles Center has been designated a mass carepoint facility with Multnomah County Health. This allows it to become a field hospital or triage center if needed, a Federal Emergency Management Area (FEMA) and American Red Cross shelter location.
UP also has a FEMA trailer in Physical Plant that includes shelter and emergency response supplies including gloves, vests, helmets and other emergency equipment, as well as a large inflatable shelter. UP has a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class that includes live practice with this equipment. The class is open to anyone in the UP community and is offered every semester. How can students prepare? Despite some predicted details, the full effects of a large scale earthquake on UP are largely unknown and it is likely that off-campus students would be on their own in the days after the earthquake. “Disaster preparedness starts on a personal level,” Rook said. “If you are living off campus, start building a kit. Have a couple gallons
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