On June 7-10, the City of Eugene will participate in Cascadia Rising, the largest-ever regional exercise supported by FEMA Region X that includes local, state, tribal and federal partners. The exercise, titled “Cascadia Rising”, is scheduled to occur in Oregon, Washington and Idaho to simulate the first four days of a Cascadia earthquake and tsunami. The City of Eugene will run a full emergency operations center, involving representatives of police, fire, public works and other functions.
Cascadia Rising will simulate a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, of equal magnitude to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) and the resulting tsunami is the most complex disaster scenario that emergency management and public safety officials in the Pacific Northwest could face. Cascadia Rising is an exercise to address that disaster.
By participating together in a large scale exercise such as Cascadia Rising, local and regional emergency response partners will help ensure they are effectively working together to provide decision makers with information to implement programs and policies that will save lives and property. The lessons learned in Cascadia Rising will be used to update local, tribal and state government, private and non-governmental organizations’ large scale earthquake response plans.
Prior to the exercise on June 6 at 12 p.m. PST, partners from FEMA Region X, the Oregon Office and Emergency Management, ShakeOut and more will participate in a twitter chat! Join the conversation with #CascadiaEQ and #CascadiaRising.
While the public agencies practice their readiness, it is also perfect time for everyone to evaluate their own family emergency plans and update or establish emergency kits. We’re preparing and you can too!
For resources to assist your own preparedness and additional information go to eugene-or.gov/emergencymanagement.