pacific county, washington a area of significant tsunami exposure pacific ocean willapa bay 18 mile...
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Pacific County, Washington
a
Area of Significant Tsunami Exposure
Pacific Ocean
Willapa Bay
18 Mile Exposure to the Columbia River
975 Square Miles – Pop: 21,000
Economy is based on forest products, tourism, and fishing and agriculture
PCEMA 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
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
State and Federal Agency Involvement
• In 1994 PCEMA directed the focus of the agency to the tsunami hazard following a distant source tsunami warning event in October of the same year. At that time there was little support from state and/or federal agencies.
• WA State EMD and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
Inundation Mapping
• Washington State Emergency Management Division formed a Washington State and Local Tsunami Workgroup.
• County requests for mapping of existing geologic evidence and inundation potential for a worst case local event scenario.
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
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• PCEMA has delivered
preparedness and mitigation messages through numerous forums and workshops to area residents
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
Warning Systems
• Multi-layered systems– Ground shaking– National Weather Radio– Telephonic system– Emergency Alert System– Partnership with fire services– All Hazard Alert Broadcast
system
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
AHAB Coverage & Evacuation Areas
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
The existing AHAB system will be tested and the coverage map refined.
Additional AHAB units are needed.
High ground evac areas are privately owned.
MOU’s being developed with landowners in high ground areas of Tokeland and North Cove
“Tsunami Ready”
Tsunami Ready does not mean ....
Tsunami Prepared
“Tsunami Ready” is a program to assess community warning readiness.
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency
Partnership Future
• 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
– Expanded warning systems
Stephanie Fritts, Director
Pacific County Emergency Management Agency