Pacific County, Washington

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Area of Significant Tsunami Exposure

Pacific Ocean

Willapa Bay

18 Mile Exposure to the Columbia River

975 Square Miles – Pop: 21,000

80% Covered by Coniferous Forest

Economy is based on forest products, tourism, and fishing and agricultureStephanie Fritts, Pacific County Emergency Manager

The Local Emergency Management Story

Pacific County Emergency Management was formed in 1986 with a mission of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for Pacific County and the cities of Ilwaco, Long Beach, Raymond and South Bend

State and Federal Agency Involvement• In 1994 the local Emergency Management Council

directed the focus of the agency to the tsunami hazard following a distant source tsunami warning event in October of the same year. There was little support from state and/or federal agencies.

• In 1997 Pacific County contacted Washington State Emergency Management Division requesting assistance in

terms of evacuation planning.

• State of Oregon

Inundation Mapping

• Washington State Emergency Management Division formed a Washington State and Local Tsunami Workgroup.

• Request for mapping of existing geologic evidence and inundation potential for a worst case local event scenario.

Partnerships

National Tsunami

Hazard Mitigation

Program

Awareness brochures

Evacuation maps

Evacuation signs

Video development

Inundation map

Products

Inundation Evacuation

Local Outreach

• Local outreach is essential – message credibility

• YTD 2005, PCEMA has delivered the preparedness and mitigation message to approximately 1500 residents through 20 meetings and conferences.

Long Beach elected

officials forum

February 2005

Photo courtesy Washington State Emergency Management Division

“Tsunami Ready”

Tsunami Ready does not mean ....

Tsunami Prepared

“Tsunami Ready” is a program to assess community warning readiness.

Partnership Future

• Continued need for data that can be provided through refined inundation mapping and mapping of geologic evidence.

• Local emergency management and the scientific community will continue to work together.

• On going and future projects must be funded – – Public Education

– Vehicular evacuation modeling