Snohomish County, cities prepare for mega-quake disasters

Published 7:14 pm Thursday, June 9, 2016

EVERETT — A mega-earthquake in the Pacific Northwest could have devastating effects on Snohomish County.

Experts say every household should be ready to endure a week in place without help. That means food, water and flashlights.

Snohomish County and many local cities this week took part in Cascadia Rising, a regional drill focused on the Cascadia Subduction Zone of the Pacific Ocean. The drill is wrapping up Friday, said Jason Biermann, the county’s director of emergency management.

Though Snohomish County isn’t on the ocean, it still could see the affects of the tsunami that is expected to follow a mega-quake, Biermann said. The South Whidbey Island Fault and the Devils Mountain Fault, which runs near Darrington, are both concerns.

This area likely would see an influx of people both escaping more dangerous areas and coming to help from safer areas, Biermann said.

The drill included the American Red Cross, the Snohomish Health District, transit agencies, police and firefighters, among other groups. The National Guard on Thursday practiced dropping supplies from a helicopter at Paine Field in Everett.

In Tuesday’s portion of the drill, a Highway 529 bridge had collapsed. U.S. 2 was blocked by debris in multiple places, and massive power outages ensued. A local earthquake likely would trigger dozens of landslides, floods and fires, Biermann said.

The county has been working to identify about 150 people, mostly staff, who would serve in disaster response and get them involved in related training, Biermann said. One team within the drill was assigned just to create and modify maps.

“We’ve become more self-sustaining and self-reliant in case we have a regional incident,” he said.

Part of the county’s role during a disaster is to collect and disseminate information on casualties and damage, and to provide support for first responders.

Many city and county governments have plans to assess damage to key roads and bridges as a priority after a disaster.

As part of the drill, Everett’s city crews were reminded to be ready at home and to have a communication plan with family members, said Marla Carter, public works spokeswoman.

The city of Snohomish sent out preparedness checklists. Many people’s commutes rely on decades-old bridges, especially those on the Snohomish River, said Steve Schuller, the deputy city manager and public works director. He thinks about the havoc caused by a fall windstorm, multiplied by a lot.

“We’re going to take the lessons learned and keep practicing,” he said.

In Lynnwood, the drill included building collapses at Alderwood mall and Edmonds Community College, city spokeswoman Julie Moore said.

Depending on the time of day, thousands of people could be at the mall during a quake, she said. Checking on schools and the city water plant are all part of the city’s plans.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

The Lynnwood Fire Department plans four Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Workshops through September. The first of those runs from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Fire Station 14, 18800 68th Ave W. The free class focuses on disaster readiness, first aid and rescue, turning off gas and water and how to make plans with neighbors to help one another.

Times vary for the sessions, planned for June 26, July 13 and Sept. 27. More info: mburke@LynnwoodWA.gov or 425-670-5302.

The American Red Cross offers advice on earthquake preparedness, including making an emergency kit, at www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/earthquake.