Oregon Public Broadcasting

Top Portland officials got a frightening update Friday on what a big earthquake might mean for the region. Rob Manning reports.

A Cascadia Subduction Zone quake could liquefy the ground beneath Portland’s industrial areas along the Willamette River. A big quake could knock out roads and power lines, and even alter shipping corridors on the Columbia River.

As Oregon’s largest city, Portland should expect to hear calls for help from smaller cities. Emergency officials say that last year’s disaster drill uncovered problems in regional response coordination.

Patty Rooter with Portland’s Office of Emergency Management, says they’re working to avoid New Orleans’ staffing problem after Hurricane Katrina, when key personnel felt torn between family and work.

Patty Rooter:  “That’s what we tell our employees: first your family, first yourself, then the greater good.”

The city is upgrading its online system for responding to incidents.

Officials at the meeting said that a two-story emergency center planned for Portland’s east side will cost more than is currently budgeted.