This week's New Yorker article "The Really Big One" has served as a wake up call to northwest residents to the reality that a major earthquake is expected to hit in the next 50 years. Oregon Emergency Managers want to use this opportunity to help people prepare.
Jenny Demaris is Emergency Manager for Lincoln County on the Oregon Coast. She says after reading or hearing about the article, people took notice.
Demaris: "Our call volumes in our office started going up. Citizens and residents stopping by the office. People asking hey, could I get that neighborhood presentation?"
Demaris says it's somewhat frustrating that it takes a national story to get people to pay attention.
Demaris: "That article clearly paints the picture of the catastrophic event that is anticipated to happen either in my lifetime or my children's lifetime. It's going to happen and we have to be personally resilient,"
Demaris says being prepared for an earthquake and tsunami also means you're ready for any kind of emergency or natural disaster.
Lincoln County Emergency Management
Lane County Emergency Preparedness
State of Oregon Emergency Management
Lincoln County is holding an Emergency Readiness Fair Saturday September 12, 2015 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds.
