Oregon Public Broadcasting

Aberdeen, Washington and Seaside, Oregon have the greatest exposure to loss if a major tsunami were to hit the Northwest coast. 

That comes out of two federal reports that rate and rank community vulnerability up and down the coast.

Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

U.S. Geological Survey researcher Nathan Wood devised an index to capture nuances in risk within the tsunami hazard zone.  For example, Wood notes disproportionate numbers of elderly people living in coastal neighborhoods.

Nathan Wood: “How that relates to risk reduction is, when we ring the bell – or someone feels that warning themselves – and they need to run a few blocks, it’s different whether I can to run three blocks in twenty minutes or less, or someone who is 75 can run that same distance.”

The rankings don’t take into account ease of evacuation. 

Seaside and Aberdeen have been especially diligent in posting signs and practicing tsunami evacuations. 

Community leaders there argue that makes their towns safer than others because local people and visitors know what to do following a major earthquake or tsunami warning.

Online:

USGS tsunami exposure assessment papers

Coastal Washington State

Coastal Oregon