EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE — Earthquake Drill

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T-REX 2016 TRAINING EXERCISE

BREAKING NEWS
Northwest Coast Rocked by Massive Quake

Military Ready to Roll-Submitted by ETD on Fri, 06/10/2016 – 09:55am
SEATTLE – (June 10, 2016)
The military has both airfield and seaport assessment teams now working in the earthquake-ravished Pacific Northwest, with extensive capabilities on standby, according to U.S. Transportation Command military officials.
These assessment teams are tasked with determining which airports are suitable for operations and capable of handling large military aircraft. Simliar teams could also be deployed to look at bridges and roads.
“If we get the call to send out more teams, we absolutely stand ready to do it,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Barattini, Surface Deployment and Distribution Center.
Rotary-wing military aircraft, including helicopters, are already assisting in the relief efforts, according to Army Col. John Praire, the Department of Defense Coordinating Officer. Once the assessments are complete, larger fixed-wing aircraft could be brought in, he said.
The Airfield Assessment Teams (AST) have not yet been asked to civilian airfields, but would be open to it and will provide support as FEMA asks for it, said Barattini.
Likewise, seaport assessment teams have not been tapped to contribute to evaluation efforts.
“Until you really know what you are dealing with on the ground and what the infrastructure is, you won’t really know how long it might take,” said Philip Krueger, seaport engineer, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
One AST is currently evaluating Joint Base Lewis-McChord, an airfield that they already had survey data on, which previously met the capabilities needed to support emergency air lifts.
The eight-member AST requires about 24-hours to complete the survey, with the initial assessment of the JBLM airfield expected to be completed later this evening.
AST determine aircraft suitability, runway abilities, facility infrastructure, levels of food and water supplies, and transportation obstacles, to determine what types of aircraft might be supported on the airfield. Their goal is to open safely as fast as possible, said Barattini.

Food Distribution Points Established-Submitted by ETD on Fri, 06/10/2016 – 07:01am
LACEY, WA. (June 10, 2016) – Food and water were made available last night to the survivors of Tuesday’s earthquake and tsunami disaster in the Pacific Northwest, according to a Washington State representative.
State Coordinating Officer Alysha Kaplan said 22 distribution points have been established, and that number is expected to double in the next few days with the goal of having 400 distribution points throughout the region.
FEMA Coordinating Officer Justo Hernandez said that a massive effort to include radio, television, social media and distribution of fliers was distributed with information on where survivors can go to receive critical supplies.
Hernandez said that all agencies are leaning forward to identify not only what is needed now, but what will be needed in the future. Hernandez also said the military was the biggest resource available to bring in critical assets.
Airport assessments are ongoing, but the military has been able to land rotary aircraft at Joint Base Lewis McCord and plan to start bringing in larger fixed wing aircraft in the near future, said Army Col. John Praire, Department of Defense Coordinating Officer.
FEMA is coordinating with 27 other agencies to address the crisis and working step-by-step to aid survivors, clear the roads and open airports, said Hernandez. It won’t happen overnight and it will take time, he said.
The emergency relief starts at the community level, according to Kaplan. “Our responses actually started at the neighbor to neighbor level,” said Kaplan. “People out there in our communities in the state of Washington are taking care of each other. We have a tremendous history of community response.”

No help in sight for tens of thousands stranded in the Pacific Northwest-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 9:33pm
SEATTLE – Four days after a cataclysmic earthquake and tsunami decimated huge swaths of Oregon and Washington, tens of thousand of survivors are still stranded, with no help in sight.
“We may as well be an island with no seaports,” said former emergency manager, Stan Smith. “
And it’s only going to get worse for many. Experts say it could take weeks to get to some survivors who must face the grim reality that they are going to have to fend for themselves.
Resources are nearly depleted and emergency management officials say nearly two thousand people are dying every day as they wait for help.
Taking to social media, many stranded are searching for answers and hoping to be heard by government leaders:
“Do we have an idea of the plan for #WA Rescue. Where are the helicopters? How do I get their attention?” Bleated @RonnyCooper
“How do we let search and rescue know where we are #FEMA. The bonfires didn’t do it last night.” @LisaChin
An estimated 17-thousand people are believed to be dead and worse yet, many bodies may never be found if they were swept out to sea leaving millions around the country heartbroken and desperate for any news.

More Death Imminent Without Critical Medical Resupply-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 3:38
SEATTLE – (June 9, 2016) Survivors and first responders of the cataclysmic Cascadia Subduction Zone disaster are facing critical shortfalls of life-sustaining supplies.
“This is a crisis wrapped in a disaster wrapped in a nightmare,” said a local emergency operation center logistics specialist. “The only thing that isn’t running out is human suffering.”
Local experts on the ground have projected that an additional 2,000 people will perish each day without a significant infusion of disaster relief including water, medical supplies, fuel and food.
Current estimates are projecting approximately 38-thousand people as having either been killed or injured with an additional 2.5 million in dire need of basic supplies.
Due to the near total destruction of area transportation corridors, delivering any assistance, remains a challenge. Repair crews are struggling to restore supply chains, leaving survivors, and now first responders, left to wonder how they will make it through another day.
Requests are flowing up from the local level and now being coordinated for to bring in federal assistance, including the military.
“We received the formal request from HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) at eight-o-clock this morning,” said U.S. Transportation Command Surgeon General, Air Force Col. Dave O’Brien, “requesting that we bring out three (disaster medical staging facilities), two to Washington and one to Portland.”
Responders are able to deploy as soon as the air fields are confirmed as being capable of safely receiving aircraft, according to O’Brian. If requested by FEMA, the state and Department of Health and Human Services, military assets could also be used to transport badly needed supplies, O’Brian said. At the time of this interview, he was unaware of any such request.

Disaster Relief Stalls, Fuel Supplies Dwindling-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 12:01
LACEY, Wash. – (June 9, 2016) Fuel shortages and wid to survivors of Tuesday’s earthquake and tsunami.
More than 800 miles of the Pacific Northwest is in ruins and many areas are still suffering aftershocks. Latest estimates project 13 thousand dead and more than 20 thousand injured, with 1 million people homeless and another 2.5 million in dire need of life-sustaining services.
In addition to the widespread damage, shortages of critical resources, including fuel are exuberating an already dire situation. “Lack of reliable electricity and an unstable fuel supply are certainly not helping our rescue workers, “said one Emergency Management Office worker.

Other agencies are also experiencing the difficulties of fuel shortages. The Coast Guard’s helicopter operation efforts are hindered by the difficult logistics of refueling at this time, according Capt. Brian Gilda, Deputy Area Commander for the Coast Guard Northwest Region.
Critical resources are becoming scarce throughout the region.
“We have made a request through the state for gasoline but part of the problem is getting it to Jefferson County with the Hood Canal Bridge closed to vehicle traffic and Highway 101 still blocked by earthquake debris,” said Bob Hamlin, Director of Jefferson County Emergency Management.
Jefferson County officials asked residents to shelter in place and refrain from refueling personal vehicles to conserve remaining fuel for local emergency responders and public works because it is unknown when fuel trucks will arrive.

Bodies Everywhere: a Crisis within a Crisis-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 11:41am
LACEY, Wash. – (June 9, 2016) As rescue and relief efforts continue to gain traction, FEMA and the Department of Health are faced with an alarming number of dead bodies.
FEMA is in the process of assembling Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Teams to handle the removal of deceased bodies, said a FEMA spokesperson.
“We have requested additional temporary mortuary services for Washington State,” said Cristina Labra, the public information officer for the Department of Health.
The Department of Health is in the process of gathering information on the locations and of the deceased and location in an effort to determine the best locations to place mobile holding refrigerators and mobile morgues, said Labra.
Labra also said that guidance has been issued for public awareness on the handling of deceased bodies so survivors might better understand proper handling procedures and reduce the spread of disease.
While authorities struggle establish their processes, survivors on the ground are struggling to deal with their reality, as typified by a bleat from RollerGirl93, “I keep going in houses hoping to find survivors. Instead I find more bodies to bury.”

Kootanai County Red Cross Shelter Phots: https://www.facebook.com/iphd1/posts/826550737479659

Cascadia Rising: A region practices for the worst- Article

Dead Bodies and Supply Shortages Plague Relief Efforts-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 10:49am
SEATTLE – (June 9, 2016) Four days after the catastrophic Cascadia earthquake and tsunami survivors and first responders are facing another crisis: rapidly escalating shortages of basic supplies.
With approximately 38 thousand people killed or injured and an estimated 2.5 million in need of life-sustaining resources, local and state relief efforts are rapidly falling short of an overwhelming demand for food, water, fuel, and medical supplies.
“There are so many people here who are desperately hungry and thirsty. How can we go on? Where is our rescue?” Bleated one person. while another person wrote, “This is so hopeless. The stink of death is everywhere and bodies are decomposing. There are so many that I don’t think there will be enough graves in Washington to hold them all.”
FEMA and other organizations are unable to deliver supplies due to damaged transportation corridors including roadways, ports and airfields.
While repair crews struggle to restore supply chains, survivors and now first responders are left to wonder how they will make it through another day.

Conditions worsen in Pacific Northwest-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 10:48am
LACEY, WASH., – (June 9, 2016) Damaged bridges and roads, widespread power outages, flooding and unstable buildings are all complicating emergency response services to the estimated 2.5 million in need of life sustaining supplies following the earthquake and tsunami that struck here four days ago.
“I’m doing patchwork on those that I can reach but it’s not enough,” said Mike Clark, a Thurston County first responder. “We are just about out of everything from bandages to blood and it doesn’t look like we can get anything in here in time to save a lot of people.”
Many people remain cut off from help with most bridges in the region damaged or closed awaiting inspections. Military helicopters have been seen removing people from some areas but the need is so great and the local and state services so overwhelmed that many fear the death toll will continue to rise.
“People are running out of food, water so I’m not confident we’ll keep finding survivors in the next few days if we can’t get more help in here,” Clark said. “I never imagined something like this.”
Aftershocks from the 9.0 magnitude earthquake are also making the search and rescue operation difficult. Survivors, cut off from the world by massive fissures along major transportation arteries such as Highway 101, and I-5 to the east and the decimated ports to the west are slowly realizing it may be weeks until help arrives.

Massive Explosion Destroys Mahlon Sweet Airport-Submitted by ETD on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 10:31am
A large fuel tank has exploded at Mahlon Sweet Airport in Eugine, Oregon. Officials say the explosion was triggered by a large aftershock in the area. All runways have been destroyed rendering the airfield unusable. Officials say they had hoped to use the airfield to receive supplies and that they will now have to find an alternate location.

Social Media Shows Despair Has Set In-Submitted by EDT on Thu, 06/09/2016 – 09:58am
(Portland) – Posts on social media from some of the hardest hit areas of Tuesday’s earthquake and tsunami tell powerful stories of hopelessness and despair.

Though government agencies have offered endless lists of helpful tips about how to stay safe after a disaster, there’s no visible efforts of what’s actually being done to rescue or help the thousands people in desperate need.
Thousands have taken to social media to beg for help. Tegan Walker bleeted this morning, “Why won’t someone come save me?” Moments later, Margret Smith bleeted, “I will sit here in my broken wheelchair. I can’t make it out to get help, and there is no one left where I am.”
Other posts show survivors consumed by grief. One person using the handle “Sneaker1873” bleeted this morning, “If my fiance is dead, why would I live…There is no hope.” Valentina Lewis bleeted, “Barley hung on through the night. Writing my parents a final email because I don’t think I am going to make it.”
People living in the devastated areas of Washington and Oregon are now angry and frustrated at the government’s response. Anytime a federal agency attempts to share information about food or supplies, they are inundated with sharp remarks about the inadequacy of what they have seen and what is being provided.

It is clear from these posts that those directly impacted by the Cascadia Quake are painting a bleak picture. While government agencies try to get a handle on what is happening, thousands are suffering and see no reason to be optimistic.

Survivors of Tuesday’s earthquake and tsunami begin to realize they are on their own-
Disaster RelieSubmitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 11:14pm
(SEATTLE) One of the first things visitors noticed when they came to the Pacific Northwest was the laidback, easy-going demeanor of the people who lived amongst the natural beauty of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
The islands, the ocean, the volcanoes and lush forests were among the world’s most breathtaking, natural wonders where millions lived and visited.
Unfortunately, there is a flip side of living amongst Mother Nature’s most magnificent wonders.
Underneath the beauty of the Pacific Northwest region, a giant has lurked for thousands of years. Every few hundred years, that giant has awakened and unleashed a fury that few in either the U.S or Canada, have ever prepared for.
Tuesday scientists warnings’ came true.
Now, where there once was laughter, there are tears. Where millions found peace and inspiration, is a place of fear, anguish, devastation and death.
Life as people knew it here in Washington prior to Tuesday, June 7thNow, will never be the same.
“I remember hearing news reports about scientists warning us to prepare for the “big one,” said Lori Love of Seattle.
Lori’s two children were visiting their grandparents in Oceanside, WA when the early morning 9.0 earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, set off a deadly tsunami that swallowed much of the Pacific Northwest’s coastal region.
“”Ive seen the videos,” said Lori between sobs.
With very little notice, many densely populated coastal town ceased to exist after a massive 30-foot wave struck the area within 15- minutes of the earthquake.
Residents who did not or could flee areas like Oceanside in time, did not stand a chance; nor did thousands living along the region’s inundation zone.
Closed circuit TV provides a glimpse of the horror everyone in those area experienced. Vivid images of people, cars, motorhomes, trees and livestock, either being sucked out to sea or swept inland by a wild rush of fast-moving water and debris.
Nearly four days later, survivors, cut off from the world by massive fissures along major transportation arteries such as Highway 101, and I-5 to the east and the decimated ports to the west are slowly realizing it may be weeks until help arrives.
“We kept hearing that we needed emergency supplies to hold us over for 2-3 days, said Wendy Woo of Seattle. “What a joke. It’s obvious none of us will be getting help for at least a week or two. Several thousand are hurt, trapped and in desperate need of help that will arrive too late. I try to keep the faith and to be hopeful, but each day more die, and each day brings challenges that seem insurmountable on top of all the death and destruction”
Woo’s 2-day supply of water and food is long gone; as are the hopes and dreams of the tens of thousands who lived here in the Pacific Northwest, next to the killer giant who has now drifted off to sleep once again.

Agencies Struggle to Keep Pace-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 6:59
LACEY, WASH. – (June 8, 2016) In spite of the combined efforts from many federal, state and local agencies, the public outcry is that the assistance in is too slow and too sparse.
“Help us. dont leave us to bury our own dead and sift through the debris of this on our own,” Bleated Ashton Brown.
Although many agencies are still in the process of assessing the situation and assembling their rescue crews after yesterday’s catastrophic events, current estimates paint a sobering picture of a projected 1 million people homeless, more than 20 thousand injured, and nearly 13 killed in either the earthquake or the subsequent tsunami.
“I keep going in houses hoping to find survivors. Instead I find more bodies to bury,” Bleated RollerGirl93 today.
A possible 2.5 million people may be in need of life-sustaining services with few organizations able to meet the seemingly endless demand, according to one Department of Health and Human Services worker.
While the military asserts its unique capability to respond in support of FEMA, other traditional disaster first responders like county services and even the US Coast Guard are struggling to stay afloat.
The Coast Guard sustained unprecedented amounts of damage to their local bases yesterday, said Capt. Brian Gilda, the deputy area commander for the Coast Guard Northwest Region who added that in the whole Pacific North West region, the USCG had only four boats operational and even those were faced with logistical shortfalls in supplies and fuel.
According to a Jefferson County fuel supply statement, Jefferson County gasoline supplies are almost completely depleted and remaining stores of fuel, currently in very short supply, were needed by local rescue efforts in order to keep responding.
“I was told 7 hours ago that rescue efforts were mobilizing and we’re all stuck up here on our rooftops with no relief in sight,” Bleated Eden Wood.
Death toll continues to rise-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 6:29pm
TACOMA, WASH. – (June 8, 2016) Yesterday’s devastating 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami killed approximately 13,000 people, with more than double that number injured according to some reports.
The U.S. Northern Command as established a joint task force to coordinate military support to the recovery operations. Joint Task Force-X was established at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Wash., on June 7, 2016. The task for is designed to provide command, control and coordination of Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations conducted by the military in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to a press statement issued by USNORTCOM.

The Search and Rescue mission is the first priority for many of the dozens of relief agencies in the region. Close to one million people are estimated to be homeless, and 2.5 million are in immediate need of life-sustaining resources including drinking water and food. A 7.1 aftershock struck the Central Oregon Coast this afternoon.
“We are doing everything we can but we just can’t get to some areas,” said one rescue worker. “There are just too many people in dire need of food, water and medical care,” he said.
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndell Air Force Base, Fla., has been coordinating military search and rescue efforts in Washington and Oregon since the earthquake struck. As of June 8, 2016, military SAR assets have airlifted 238 people to safety, assisted local authorities with six saves and recovered 38 bodies of those killed, according to USSNORTHCOM.
UPDATE: Scoggins Dam fails -Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 2:17
Washington County officials report that they have confirmed that the Scoggins Dam in Washington County, Oregon failed Wednesday at 1:20 p.m. as a result of inundation from massive area flooding because of multiple waves of the tsunami that followed the Cascadia earthquake Tuesday, placing more than 4,500 area residents in harm’s way with little warning. The dam was more than 40 years old and in line to receive funding to receive critical seismic retrofitting late last year.
The Bureau of Reclamation began increasing water releases into Scoggins Creek to 4,500 cubic feet per second in order to relieve pressure off the dam, earlier Wednesday. Releasing water at a higher rate was intended to reduce the likelihood of a dam breach but the agency warned that the dam could still fail without notice and urged nearby residents to evacuate the area.
The total capacity of the Henry Hagg Lake was a 59,910 acre-feet flood control structure with an 151-foot-high earth-fill dam structure retaining water for multiple purposes. The heavily relied on flood control structure provided stored water for irrigation serving more than 17,000 acres of county farmland, municipal and industrial needs, recreation, fish & wildlife preservation, water quality control and drinking water for the cities of Forest Grove, Hillsboro and Cornelius. The total impact of the breach is unknown at this time.

Happy Valley City turns off city-wide utilities for resident safety-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 12:51
The City of Happy Valley turned off power and natural gas to keep citizens safe. The city declared a state of emergency as a result of the Cascadia earthquake along the Oregon coast and opened the emergency operation center to respond to the massive damage to the city infrastructure. The city is inspecting structures around the area and prioritizing government buildings, shelters bridges and roads. The city assures residents they will continue to work with providers to resume service as soon as possible.
Sunrise Water Authority is advising all water customers to voluntarily limit use of water to drinking and first aid purposes.
The city reports there have been 90 dead bodies recovered by the medical examiner who is working to identify those individuals, though, there are no instructions as to where people missing family members may go to claim or identify those who are deceased. There are also currently 250 reported non-fatal injuries.

Washington County issues evacuation for Scroggins Dam-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 11:47
Officials in Washington county are urging residents surrounding the Scoggins Dam and Henry Hagg Lake areas to evacuate in response to seismic experts warning of a strong possibility for dam failure. The dam has currently reached Level 2, if it reaches Level 3, a complete dam failure, communication channels could go down, so officials are urging residents to evacuate now.
There is still time for residents to gather essential items including first aid, medications and supplies for pets they will take with them. Officials advise that Washington County Animal Services does not have resources for a large-scale livestock evacuation, residents will need to secure their livestock as best as possible.
Shelter facilities for those in the affected area are being identified and will be announced soon.

Emergency shelters established in Idaho for displaced quake victims-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 11:34
BOISE, Idaho – Residents of Washington and Oregon who are able to evacuate the earthquake zone may now take shelter in Twin Falls, Idaho because the American Red Cross and the South Central District Health established an evacuation center at Twin Falls High School. County officials say so far they are assisting about 15 to 30 individuals who have arrived from areas impacted by the earthquake. The shelter can house up to 100 evacuees. For more shelter information in your area contact your county emergency operations centers.

Clackamas County opens emergency operations center, offers advice-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 11:02
CLACKAMAS, Oregon – Clackamas County released a statement saying responders activated the Emergency Operations Center to respond to buildings, homes and infrastructure extensively damaged by the massive Cascadia subduction zone earthquake, Tuesday. The center will remain open 24 hours a day to handle response efforts until further notice and officials ask that residents only use 9-1-1 for emergencies though there may be delays or interruptions in local phone and internet service because of earthquake damage.
The release encourages residents to be aware of any aftershocks which can cause additional damage to structures and may occur from hours to months following the earthquake. Citizens are encouraged to stay updated on information through battery operated television and radio, use telephones only for emergencies, evacuate buildings that may have been damaged until they are declared structurally sound, stay away from damaged areas outdoors and be wary of debris that could fall on you. They recommend you help others if you can especially people who may have special needs or disabilities.
They encourage you check for gas leaks, electrical system damage and check your sewage and waterlines. If you run across toxic chemicals like spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids, clean them up immediately.

Clackamas County activates Emergency Operations Center in response to earthquake- Submitted by Clackamas_County on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 10:04am
Tim Heider, Public Information Officer, Clackamas County
Clackamas County has activated its Emergency Operations Center following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck at 8 a.m. on June 7, 2016. There have been several aftershocks. Extensive damage to buildings, homes and infrastructure has been reported throughout the area..
The Emergency Operations Center is fully-staffed and will remain open 24 hours a day until further notice. The media call line for information and updates is 503-650-3933. Please refrain from using 9-1-1 for anything other than emergencies. Expect delays or interruption in local phone service due to earthquake damage.
The public may also experience interruptions in internet service. The County’s website at https://nnc.simulationdeck.net/agency-news/1891 is operating presently. Informational updates will be posted regularly.
What to Do After an Earthquake
Expect aftershocks. In the event of an aftershock, citizens are advised to drop, cover and hold under a table or sturdy object. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.
• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television. Listen for the latest emergency information.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
• Stay away from damaged areas. Stay away unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organizations. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• Help injured or trapped persons. Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance such as infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
If you are in a building that has been damaged by the earthquake please evacuate and do not return until it has been examined and cleared for re-occupancy.
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.
• Inspect utilities.
o Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
o Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
o Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap.
Interested media call 503-650-3933 to speak with a PIO, or email eocpio@clackamas.us (link sends e-mail).

Overwhelming Destruction in the Pacific Northwest-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 10:17am
Officials are scrambling to cope with the overwhelming numbers of dead and dying in the Pacific Northwest. Barely 24 hours after the earthquake and tsunami struck people are devastated. Social media posts from those in the area describe a scene of absolute horror and chaos as residents grapple with what to do with deceased loved ones, and even strangers. Officials estimate the death toll is close to 13,000 with more than double that number injured. At lease a million people are believed to now be homeless, and 2.5 million are in immediate need of life-sustaining resources including drinking water and food.
Public perception in many places is that the government response has been sluggish. The ETD is aggressively working to better understand exactly what the government is doing to respond to this unprecedentedly catastrophic emergency.

Military Joins Search, Rescue- Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 09:03am
SEATTLE – (June 8, 2016) The U.S. military is joining local, state and other federal agencies in search and rescue efforts following the historic earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Pacific Northwest yesterday, said Lt. Cmdr. Grant Neeley, Joint Task Force spokesperson.
U.S. Marines are going door-to-door searching for survivors and providing sheltering supplies from local warehouses.
A Joint Forces Headquarters, operating under the control of the Washington National Guard, is currently on the ground providing disaster relief activities, said Neeley.
“We are acting under immediate response authority where commanders are authorized to provide support,” said Neeley.
Immediate Response Authority permits a local commander to provide assistance in the case of emergencies without prior approval when a timely response is needed. It authorizes the use of the medevac aircraft, ambulances, dog teams and various military.
The U.S. Marines were on Fort Lewis to conduct training exercises with the Army when the earthquake and following tsunami struck.

More Than Ten Thousand Dead, Catastrophic Earthquake and Tsunami Decimates Pacific Northwest-Submitted by JessicaMills on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 07:48am
Scientists told us that the odds of this happening were one in ten.
“Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast,” said Kenneth Murphy FEMA Director in an interview with The New Yorker just last summer.
Now that “operating assumption” is more than just an educated guess. It’s reality.
While efforts to fully calculate the complete extent of the damage are ongoing, officials say we are looking at 140,000 square miles of heavily affected area including the major metropolitan areas of Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Eugene, Salem, and Olympia.
At least 7 million people are believed to be victims of this event, directly affected by the 9.0 earthquake and following 40-foot tsunami wave. Officials estimate that as many somewhere between 10 and 13 thousand people are dead. More than 25,000 are injured. At least 1 million people are believed to be displaced and at least double that are in immediate need of food and water.
This is unequivocally the worst natural disaster in the history of North America. Putting these numbers into perspective, roughly three thousand people died in San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake. Two thousand people died in Hurricane Katrina.
And the message we’ve received from the government today is that they are “standing by to help.”
The shaking from the Cascadia set off innumerable landslides throughout the region, including tens of thousands in Settle alone. We’ve known for years that fifteen per cent of Seattle is built on liquefiable land, including seventeen day-care centers and the homes of some thirty-four thousand five hundred people. These structures are all believed to now be fully or at least partially collapsed.
In Oregon alone, it is believed that seventy-five percent of all structures have sustained damage. Across the region officials estimate that 1 million buildings, including more than 3,000 schools, have collapsed or are seriously compromised. Half of all highway bridges, fifteen of the seventeen bridges spanning Portland’s two rivers, and two-thirds of railways and airports are severely damaged. One-third of all fire stations, half of all police stations, and two-thirds of all hospitals are also believed to have collapsed or have been seriously affected.
In the I-5 corridor, estimates for power, water and sewer service restoration are in the months (not days, or weeks).
On the coast, residents should expect to have to survive three to six months without electricity, one to three years without drinking water and sewage systems, and three or more years without hospitals.
Official estimates are that it will be years before the tsunami-inundation zone will be habitable again.
There is no precedent for a catastrophe of this magnitude in the United States. We are confronting loss and human suffering on a national scale that we have never before been asked face. We must stop standing by and stand up.

Shortages, Water Contamination Complicate Relief Efforts-Submitted by ETD on Wed, 06/08/2016 – 07:11am
LACEY, Wa. (June 8, 2016) – Shortages of food and fuel, combined with unreliable water sources and widespread destruction, are complicating local, state and federal response agencies ability to help the thousands of survivors from yesterday’s earthquake and tsunami.
With roadways damaged and flood waters potentially contaminating many fresh water resources, local agencies are working hard to render assistance, but have limited resources due to structural damages incurred at local facilities.
According to Walt Hubbard, director of King County Office of Emergency Management, there is extensive damage to the infrastructure in King County that has forced emergency operations to relocate.
“I want to make sure that the citizens out there know that we are working very hard to make sure that they are safe,” said Hubbard. “And we are in the process now of trying to determine where the most need is and get resources there as quickly as we can.”
In Lane County, Oregon, public health information alerts recommended that the public stay away from standing water because it may be contaminated by fecal matter. They also recommended boiling water or adding disinfectants to make it safe and to not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, wash hands or make baby formula.
To prevent foodborne diseases, the CDC advises the public to throw away any food that wasn’t in sealed waterproof containers. Any commercially packaged and sealed food that came in contact with untreated water should be decontaminated with soap, bleach and clean water.

Cascadia Rising Road Closures

Coastal quake survivors stranded, left in the dark- Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 -3:01
BEND, Ore. — Earthquake damage has cut off most Pacific Northwest coastal communities from the I-5 corridor.
Several stretches of roads and bridges were either seriously damaged or destroyed in this morning’s massive quake. Highway 101, which was built along several old landslides, is expected to have been fractured in many areas. According to previous studies, 98 of the 135 bridges on U.S. 101 in Oregon are expected to have been destroyed or seriously damaged.
According to Oregon Department of Transportation records, 19 bridges farther inland on I-5 were also built before the development of modern seismic design standards and most likely suffered heavy damage.
Large ports in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma were outside the tsunami inundation zone, but are experiencing heavy currents and liquefaction, causing damage to ships and piers in the harbor.
Airports along the coast are also expected to suffer severe damage by the quake, liquefaction or the tsunami. According to earlier FEMA studies, most coastal runways are expected to be unusable for fixed-wing aircraft, but could be useful for helicopter evacuation and relief efforts.

Those left on the coast could be in the dark for months. Studies indicated that partial blackouts in every city located within 100 miles of the coast in Washington and Oregon, and parts of northwestern California will experience partial-to-full blackouts. Most natural gas customers will in those areas will also be without service. Officials predicted it could take days to restore services in inland areas, but coastal areas would be without power and other utilities for months.

Some Bleats (Tweets) from the Cascadia Rising Exercise:
////////Exercise Exercise Exercise//////
“I really need to stop crying so I can think. Ok. First thing I need is some medical help. Where can I go? Can anyone help me?”
“Everyone that’s on the street is restless; we’re all hungry and thirsty.”
“Hearing all airports are closed, but how will they get us help. these roads are destroyed”
“Not sure what will get me first, the weather or the dehydration. Still looking for clean safe water.”
“I really need to stop crying so I can think. Ok. First thing I need is some medical help. Where can I go? Can anyone help me?”
“I have been trying to pull neighbors out of rubble for hours. It seems that we have a strength we didn’t know we had in a time like this. Just glad to still be pulling out survivors.”

Local and State Agencies Respond to Disaster- Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 2:15
LACEY, Wa. (June 7, 2016) – FEMA officials urge earthquake survivors to continue to seek shelter as the Pacific Northwest is still under a tsunami warning and may experience aftershocks.
The extent of damage and the death toll from this morning’s earthquake and tsunami are being projected as possibly the worst natural disaster to strike the United States in modern history.
The tsunami following the earthquake caused damage as far inland as King County, according to Walt Hubbard, director of the King County Office of Emergency Management.
Damage assessments and the search for survivors are being conducted by local and state emergency response agencies with 18 Search and Rescue teams from FEMA are expected to arrive within the next 24-hours, according to a FEMA spokesperson,
Despite the extent of destruction, the Department of Defense has not been tasked with supporting the rescue and recovery efforts, according to a spokesperson from U.S. Northern Command.
“We are full up and ready to respond in a homeland defense situation from a NORAD or US NORTHCOM perspective,” said a command spokesperson.

Coastal areas are still dangerous and FEMA is advising survivors to monitor the situation through social media channels, radio and the local news. They also encourage survivors to use social media as an outlet for requesting assistance and to have the mobile device GPS feature on in order to aid rescuers in determining an accurate location.
The Red Cross has established a hub at safeandwell.org for anyone seeking information on missing family members.

Residents Urged to Stay Off Roadways- Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 2:03
SEATTLE – (June 7, 2016) The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is urging residents to stay off the roadways in an effort to inspect, repair and provide unfettered access to emergency services.
WSDOT spokesperson Barbra LaBoe said crews are our inspecting bridges and roads in order to determine which need repairs and which are passable.
The extent of damage so far includes; 58 state road closures, 26 road restrictions, four bridge closures and 22 collapsed bridges, according to LaBoe. Additionally, no ferries are running as the whole fleet has been sortied to deep water in an effort to mitigate further tsunami damage.
“The governor has declared a state of disaster and we will be requesting federal funds,” LaBoe said, adding that it is critically important that if people are safe, that they stay off the roads so they can be better accessed by emergency crews.
“Just because you see a bridge standing, it doesn’t mean that it has been inspected and cleared for use,” LaBoe added.
For the most up to date information on the state of roads and bridges please visit the WSDOT blog at: wsdotcascadiarising.blogspot.com.

Aftershocks Expected-Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 12:58
SEATTLE – (June 7, 2016) Government officials are warning residents affected by this morning’s 9.0-magnitude earthquake to expect aftershocks.
“People are advised to prepare for aftershocks. They may be very strong and cause more damage to fragile buildings, roads, and utilities,” said Linda Kent, Washington State Department of Enterprise Services representative. “Avoid entering buildings, parking garages, and other structures.”
FEMA released a statement asking people to monitor their local news, NOAA radio and official social media channels for instructions from their state, local and tribal officials, “Follow all instructions on evacuations, getting to higher ground or sheltering in place. The safest place for you right now may be where you are.”
Kent added that initial reports are that local police and fire agencies are working at capacity, so it might take longer than usual for emergency services to respond. She advises that all residents should actively help one another to the greatest extent possible.
Two Incident Management Teams have been deployed to the affected region, according to FEMA.
FEMA activated its National Response Coordination Center and Regional Response Coordination Center in Region Ten.
Washington State Department of Transportation has also activated its Emergency Operations Center.

Tsunami impacts massive area-Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 12:26
Exercise Times Daily
LOS ANGELES – The area inundated by today’s tsunami extends 450 miles along the coast of Washington and Oregon, experts said, while communications with the area remain scanty.
The majority of the coastline is sparsely populated. However, the tsunami wave likely caused devastating damage and is expected to have claimed thousands of lives. Anyone in the tsunami zone when the first wave hit was likely killed or seriously injured. Buildings, roads, bridges, and utility infrastructure in the tsunami inundation zone are severely damaged or completely destroyed.
For many, the only warning coastal communities received came from the earthquake itself.
Some survivors attempted to evacuate in their vehicles, but were blocked by impassable roads or bridges. Roads blocked by landslides, crumbled surfaces or downed bridges left routes in gridlock, forcing survivors to walk or run to higher ground.
There has been no word from many coastal communities like Westport, Wash., where the elevation is only 23 feet, and was hit first by the tsunami. Water levels there reached 12.2 feet above its tide levels.
Waters surged at Port Angeles Wash., to eight-and-a-half feet, while Port Orford, Ore., levels nearly reached eight feet. The tsunami reached Hawaii this afternoon sending water levels to nearly seven feet in Nawiliwili, according to the NOAA’s National Tsunami Warning Center.
Downed power lines, damaged streets and buildings, and other damage further slowed evacuation from inundation areas.
More than 86,000 in the immediately impacted areas could have evacuated the inundation zone at a slow walk, but experts say over 20,000 residents were likely be unable to make it to high ground. Previous FEMA studies estimated that as many as 15,000 of those residents may have been swept out to sea or crushed in debris entrenched in the tsunami water.
Tsunami waves were expected to continue to surge in and out of the inundation zones for up to 24 hours following the quake. Aftershocks could also generate additional tsunami waves. Experts said survivors could be stranded for weeks with an air or sea rescue the only viable way out.
Even after the first wave recedes, the danger will not be over. Officials warn that tsunami waves could continue to surge in and out of inundation zones for up to 24 hours after the earthquake. In the coming days, there will likely be numerous large aftershocks, some of which may have the potential to generate additional tsunami waves. Survivors in many coastal communities may be stranded for weeks due to damaged ground transportation networks. Air and sea transportation may be the only viable way to access many coastal communities.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 11:57
BREAKING NEWS: Much of the Northwest completely cutoff from the civilzation after historic quake
(PORTLAND) Millions in the Pacific Northwest are without power, phones, or internet in the aftermath a massive earthquake rocked much of the Pacific Northwest early this morning . “I am so worried and frustrated,” said a Jean Moore who cannot get ahold of her family living along in Oceanside, WA. “I redial every few minutes… hoping to hear my daughter’s voice. Instead, all I hear is a recording telling me all phone lines are busy or down because of the earthquake and Tsunami. All I can do is pray at this point!” Moore told ETD reporters.
The quake and the ensuing 30 foot tsunami has knocked out thousands of cell towers, ripped apart underground fiber optic lines and power stations.
Communication experts say it could take months for communication lines to be restored.

Billions could be lost in OR agriculture- Submitted-06/07/2016 – 11:30
WASHINGTON – As the Pacific Northwest begins responding to this country’s worst disaster on record, the effect of this morning’s earthquake and tsunami will also be felt into eastern areas of the states.
Oregon’s agricultural production was worth a record $5.4 billion in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s statistics service and Oregon State University.
The record value shows the state’s farms and ranches had largely recovered from the recession, the Oregon Department of Agriculture said in an earlier news release. The previous record, $5.3 billion, was set in 2011.

The state’s top 10 agricultural products include:

1. Greenhouse and nursery products — $745 million
2. Cattle and calves — $653 million
3. Hay — $638 million
4. Milk — $497 million
5. Wheat — $472 million
6. Grass seed — $411 million
7. Potatoes — $172 million
8. Pears — $134 million
9. Corn for grain and silage — $119 million
10. Onions — $115 million

Damage to western roads and bridges, ports, and the Columbia River navigation system, will prevent normal movement of goods, including the export of agricultural products. Fuel distribution systems may also cause shortages in some inland areas.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 11:21
WASHINGTON – The last time the Cascadia Subduction Zone ruptured was in 1700, which triggered an earthquake estimated at 9.0. Today’s temblor measured the same magnitude and experts say will drastically change the Pacific Northwest Coastline.
The CSZ stretches 700 miles from northern California to Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The zone is made up of subducting plates beneath the North American Plate, which was thrust upwards and southwestwards. Although little information is coming from the coast is this time, experts estimated in earlier studies that such a quake could cause large sections of the coastline to drop more than six-and-a-half feet.
Experts estimate that deaths could exceed 10,000 with more than 30,000 injured from the quake and tsunami.
In comparison, the 2011 earthquake in Tohoku, Japan, also measured at 9.0 and triggered a tsunami that produced as many as five large waves within two hours after the quake. The disaster claimed more than 15,700 lives and left 5,300 injured. Total economic loss was $309 billion, which included a reactor meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant when its backup generator and batteries, located in a basement of the building, were flooded by the tsunami.
The immediate response to the CSZ quake and tsunami will be to rescue those who are trapped, and treat and evacuate the injured. But the long-term effects will undoubtedly be felt years to come.
Significant industry, manufacturing and port facilities are located in the Pacific Northwest. It is the sixth largest metropolitan economy and contributes $450 billion to the Gross Domestic Product annually.
The area is home to Nike, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbuck and Amazon. The Port of Seattle is also a key hub for resupplying Alaskan communities. King County provides more than 35,000 hotel rooms and Seattle welcomed 19 million visitors last year, according to the Washington state tourism releases.
Damage to roads and bridges, ports and the Columbia River navigation system will prevent normal movement of goods, including export of agricultural products. The disaster will undoubtedly cause the loss of numerous small businesses in quake-damaged areas, the possible exodus of some large businesses out of the region and a sharp decline in tourism, particularly along the coast.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 11:00
WASHINGTON – The governors of Oregon and Washington have declared their states disaster areas in response to today’s massive earthquake and tsunami, opening their states’ National Guard forces to respond to what is already being called the most catastrophic disaster this country has ever seen.
The 9.0 quake struck at 8 a.m., PDT along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 700-mile fault line along the shores of the Pacific Northwest, and lasted five minutes.
A tsunami struck an area of more than 140,000 square miles in three states and British Columbia, Canada. Although communications are limited, it appears the tsunami affected 11 coastal counties, 3 inland Puget Sound counties, and 55 cities. More than 71,000 people live within the tsunami inundation zones and many thousands more tourists were visiting the areas.
In addition to the earthquake and inundation from the tsunami, soil liquefaction and land subsidence have been reported. Thousands are feared dead or injured.
The President of the United States is in Nairobi, Kenya, for a key African Summit and is expected to return to Washington, D.C., tomorrow morning.

Submitted by ETD Tue, 06/07/2016 – 10:32- FEMA sends Incident Management Assistance Team to Oregon
CLACKAMAS, OREGON – FEMA has deployed an Incident Management Assistance Teams to the Oregon and Washington to help the state recover from the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that shook the state at 8 a.m. Tuesday. The epicenter is reportedly 95 miles west of Eugene, Oregon and the effects were felt from Northern California to British Columbia. A FEMA spokesperson said the teams are en route to the states at this time to help assess and assist in the recovery effort.
The National Weather Service reports the observed tsunami effects that resulted from the seismic activity hit Port Orford, Oregon at 4.4 ft by 9:48 a.m. Tuesday.
FEMA recommends that residents heed all evacuation and shelter in place warnings. They say the safest place for you may be right where you are. FEMA warns that residents may expect strong aftershocks that may further shake and damage structures and cause landslides, further flooding and other hazards.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 10:12
SEATTLE – (June 7, 2016) In the aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude that struck an 800-mile stretch of the Pacific North West, including Washington State, Oregon, parts of Canada and northern California, the Washington State Department of Transportation is posting updates on road closures and damages.
The blog, found at: wsdotcascadiarising.blogspot.com is asking that if people are in a safe location to stay in place until the roadways are safe for use. It is listing the following damages and closures:
Island County: Deception Pass bridge is closed at SR 20 mp 41.8, landslide, cars abandoned on the bridge.
Kitsap County: Hood Canal Bridge closed to vehicle traffic due to tsunami.
Lewis County: SB I-5 in Longview: concrete on freeway due to collapsed bridge I-5 milepost 37; SR 432 mp 9.5 Cowlitz Bridge closed, bridge sagging; SR 6 Chehalis Bridge at milepost 51 is collapsed; SR 6 near Pe Ell, mp 28.3 in west Lewis County is closed in both directions due of a landslide.
King County: I-5 at mp 192 is closed in both directions due to broken bridge joints and “chunks of concrete” on roadway; SR 18 over Auburn is collapsed; SR 509 Hoy and SR 522 at mp 0.12 has a collapsed bridge.
Thurston County: Nisqually River bridges down on I-5 in both directions.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 10:07
SEATTLE – (June 7, 2016) Social media channels are lit up with cries for help from survivors of the massive, 9.0 earthquake that struck the Pacific North West at approximately 8 a.m.
Hundreds of people, with no other means of communicating, have turned to social media seeking evacuations and medical attention. Many bleats appear to be originating form from damaged schools with children trapped by crumbling walls or other debris.
Christopher McCuster bleated that walls were crumbling at his elementary school. Another bleater, Dan Morgen posted that he can’t find his daughter. Jerry Ahlgreen bleated that the roof collapsed and people are trapped under shelves in his location.
Citizens are being advised to remain in place and listen to directions from local authorities, according to a FEMA spokesperson. People are also being encouraged to continue to monitor all news sources, including social media, for rescue and recovery information.
The numbers of people killed, injured and missing are unknown.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 09:46
Compiled from wire reports
Exercise Times Daily
A Coast Guard C-130 spotted Coast Guardsmen and family members stranded at stations in Tillamook, Ore., and Grays Harbor, Wash., according to radio traffic from the crew to their home station.

The pilot said the crew spotted about 50 people at each station. The pilot reported that both stations were “devastated” by this morning’s earthquake and tsunami and the survivors were in “dire situations.”

Also, all available ferries in Washington state were also being requested to help in evacuating any survivors from the San Juan Islands. There is currently no information available about the 14,000 residents of the islands. The islands are in the Puget Sound at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 09:39
(BOISE) Idaho has issued a State of Emergency a spokesperson for the Idaho National Guard confirmed. Shortly following a 9.0 earthquake that rattled Seattle and Washington states this morning around 8:00, the Governor made the State of Emergency Declaration in order to further the state’s readiness to provide support to those affected states. A State of Emergency declaration allows Idaho to activate its emergency services, such as the Idaho national guard, and enable Idaho to provide assistance as requested by the affected states, said Idaho National Guard spokesman Maj Chris Borders. “We’re getting ahead of the game,” he said.
At the time this story was published, Maj. Borders was unaware of whether the state had received any requests from assistance from either Washington or Oregon.

 

Submitted by ETD on Tue, 06/07/2016 – 08:11

(SAN FRANCISCO) – Early reports are coming in of a massive earthquake that has struck along the Washington, Oregon and British Columbia coasts just around 8:00 this morning. The quake reportedly lasted nearly 5-minutes. Seismologists at the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, CO say the earthquake happened along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Developing Story–