Pacific County, Washington, lies along the Cascadia Subduction Zone—a fault line capable of producing devastating earthquakes and tsunamis. Being prepared can make a critical difference in survival and recovery during such disasters.

Understanding the Risk

The Cascadia Subduction Zone runs from Northern California to British Columbia. A large earthquake along this fault could trigger a powerful tsunami that could strike the Washington coast in minutes. Recognizing the signs and acting quickly is essential.

Earthquake Preparedness

Create a Family Plan: Decide how you’ll communicate, where to meet, and what to do during an emergency. Practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” regularly.

Secure Your Space: Anchor heavy furniture and secure appliances. Check that your home meets earthquake-resistant building standards.

Build an Emergency Kit: Stock up on water, food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, medications, and other essentials for at least 72 hours.

Tsunami Preparedness

Know Evacuation Routes: Understand your local tsunami evacuation zones and where to go during an alert.

Practice Evacuations: Drills should include walking inland or to higher ground. Roads may not be usable after a major earthquake.

Stay Informed: Sign up for local emergency alerts and familiarize yourself with warning signs like earthquake shaking or a sudden withdrawal of water from the shore.

Early Warning Apps for Your Phone

MyShake: Provides earthquake alerts via the USGS ShakeAlert system.

Android Earthquake Alerts System: Built into Android phones and alerts users using phone sensors.

NVS Tsunami Evacuation App: Helps identify tsunami hazard zones and nearest evacuation routes.

FEMA App: Offers real-time hazard alerts and safety tips.

Disaster Alert: Global monitoring and alert system for all types of hazards, including tsunamis.

Community Engagement

Get involved with local preparedness programs and emergency management organizations. Being part of a ready community strengthens everyone’s safety and recovery efforts.

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Helpful Links

Pacific County Emergency Management: https://pcema.info/be-informed/tsunami/

Ocean Park Tsunami Evacuation Map: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_tsunami_evac_oceanpark.pdf

Chinook Tsunami Evacuation Map: https://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_tsunami_evac_chinook.pdf

WA Coastal Resilience Tsunami Page: https://wacoastalnetwork.com/tsunami/

MyShake App: Google Play | Apple App Store

NVS Tsunami Evacuation App: Google Play | Apple App Store

FEMA App: https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-app

Disaster Alert App: https://www.pdc.org/apps/disaster-alert/

ShakeAlert: https://www.shakealert.org