New plan unveiled to help Oregon prepare for 'the big one'
PORTLAND, Ore. – While most of us looked in horror at the images from the devastating Japan tsunami two years ago, Jay Wilson saw a harbinger of what will come to Oregon.
“Devastation, the unimaginable images they were capturing over there - sooner or later are going to become a reality,” Wilson said.
Wilson is one of more than 100 volunteers behind the Oregon Resilience Plan, a massive report that explains the stark realities we face living in quake country. The plan is a guidebook for state lawmakers, who will be in charge of completing recommendations set forth in the plan, like investing money to strengthen Oregon’s infrastructure.
The Legislature will be briefed on the plan later this week.
According to the report’s worst-case scenarios, 10,000 Oregonians could be killed by a big earthquake, and the timetables to restore basic services are staggering:
- Electricity: 1-3 months
- Police and fire stations: 2-4 months
- Major roadways reopened: 6-12 months
- Hospitals reopen: Up to 18 months
“The most fundamental aspects of our society we take for granted can all just be broken and taken away,” said Wilson.
Despite the devastation in Japan, the deep earthquake history there makes communities more prepared. We don’t have that history here, so the hope is that the Oregon Resilience Plan is enough to convince all of us to get ready.
“We haven’t had enough earthquakes to make us do the work,” Wilson said. “If we wait for the big one to happen, it’s too late.”
Why leave it to the government to get everything prepared for you? Why not take steps to help your self? If people continue to wait for the government to do everything for them we will never be ready. Help yourself, put emergency supplies together, if for nothing else then 72 hours worth. The attitude of it wont happen here is part of the problem in society today, it will happen. It's just a matter of when.
Look at the worst case time line for everything to be restored, people will be in trouble if it's even half or a third of that amount of time. Do yourself a favor and have something, remember something is better then nothing.
I think a tax is in the works, lets say 10% sales tax. Yah that will do it
Ok, so pay someone totally independent of Government to do a study about Oregon's disaster preparedness. Then formulate the most frugal plan that is available because we are talking tax dollars here. Hire private contractors within and only within the state to perform the necessary repairs, upgrades, etc. etc. Finally quit trying to frighten people into giving up more tax dollars that are absolutely needed to bring things into line. Private contractors need to have honor and truth in their bids, and need to be held accountable for tax dollars used unwisely. Governments should have minimal involvement or there will be a huge waste of money.