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Is Klamath prepared for an earthquake?
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson Geochemist Marge Willett discusses how a Basin and Range Region diverging fault line helped create the Klamath Basin. |
Plans in place to keep area secure in case of emergency
By MEGAN DOYLE
H&N Staff Writer
Earthquakes are one among the top 10 hazards most likely to occur in Klamath County.
The risk, calculated by county emergency officials, has many community leaders saying it’s not a matter of if, but when, a sizeable earthquake will occur here again.
Area residents who lived near Klamath Falls in 1993 likely concur. An earthquake on Sept. 20, 1993, destroyed buildings and killed two people. And aftershocks in the days following kept people on edge.
Since then, some tremblers, but no major quake, have shaken Klamath. But in the past month, earthquakes have rocked land off the Oregon coast and Reno, Nev.
Could Klamath be next? Unfortunately, there is no way to predict the earth’s movement.
Because of that, county leaders have plans for what to do, including preparing residents for such an emergency.
“It’s wise to be able to fend for yourself for 72 hours,” said county emergency manager Bill Thompson.
When a major event such as an earthquake occurs, he first finds out from the 911 emergency dispatchers the magnitude of the event.
From there, public works and Oregon Department of Transportation officials are called to assess public structures, while American Red Cross workers assess damage to residences.
If needed, residents would be evacuated to emergency shelters, he said.
It’s up to the county commissioners to declare a countywide disaster when resources from within the county are fully exhausted and additional services are needed. At that point, state resources become available to the county in need.
“It doesn’t open up a whole lot of money at that point,” Thompson said, adding that money would come later, if a wider-spread disaster were declared.
In an emergency, such as an earthquake, all city police department personnel are required to report for duty.
“That’s one of the downsides of being in public service,” said Klamath Falls Police Chief Jim Hunter, noting family takes a backseat.
Officers would likely be split into two, 12-hour shifts to patrol, prevent looting, perform any needed search and rescues, and maintain traffic control.
Partnerships between agencies come into play, said Sheriff Tim Evinger.
“That’s why it’s good we train together and have those partners meet beforehand,” he said.
If state resources are requested, the Air National Guard also could get involved, said Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Walsh.
At Kingsley Field, guard members would check for structure damage and move airplanes out of the hangars.
They have access to heavy equipment and manpower, and could help the community.
“We’re there to help in every way we can,” Walsh said. “We are there to supplement and support the local authorities.”
The top hazard during an earthquake is a power outage that would impact lights, heat and the ability to pump gasoline, Thompson said.
Another likely failure following an earthquake is communication systems. Telephone lines could jam because of too much traffic or not work at all.
The only modes of communication that may work are public service and amateur radios, Thompson said.
Single-story wooden structures, even older homes, should withstand an earthquake, Thompson said.
Most damage to homes in 1993 occurred because the homes had brick chimneys that hadn’t been reinforced with steel rods.
“Wood-frame structures do pretty well in earthquakes. They have some give built into them,” agreed Rex Turner, Klamath County building inspector, “and modern buildings do quite well.”
The Oregon State Building Code undergoes changes every three years or so, but it’s for better seismic design of buildings, he said.
Existing buildings don’t have to meet the most current codes unless they are remodeled or the use of the structure changes. Over the years, more requirements have been introduced that result in the reinforcement of structures.
If an earthquake hits, the building department would send engineers to check on public buildings before private residences.
Residents are encouraged to use common sense and look for cracked walls or any obvious deformity, Turner said.
Following the 1993 earthquake, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries put a lot of money into researching the region, Thompson said.
The result was hazard maps that show what land is not good for building because of its soil composition and slope.
The risk, calculated by county emergency officials, has many community leaders saying it’s not a matter of if, but when, a sizeable earthquake will occur here again.
Area residents who lived near Klamath Falls in 1993 likely concur. An earthquake on Sept. 20, 1993, destroyed buildings and killed two people. And aftershocks in the days following kept people on edge.
No major quakes since
Since then, some tremblers, but no major quake, have shaken Klamath. But in the past month, earthquakes have rocked land off the Oregon coast and Reno, Nev.
Could Klamath be next? Unfortunately, there is no way to predict the earth’s movement.
Because of that, county leaders have plans for what to do, including preparing residents for such an emergency.
“It’s wise to be able to fend for yourself for 72 hours,” said county emergency manager Bill Thompson.
When a major event such as an earthquake occurs, he first finds out from the 911 emergency dispatchers the magnitude of the event.
From there, public works and Oregon Department of Transportation officials are called to assess public structures, while American Red Cross workers assess damage to residences.
If needed, residents would be evacuated to emergency shelters, he said.
It’s up to the county commissioners to declare a countywide disaster when resources from within the county are fully exhausted and additional services are needed. At that point, state resources become available to the county in need.
“It doesn’t open up a whole lot of money at that point,” Thompson said, adding that money would come later, if a wider-spread disaster were declared.
Responses
In an emergency, such as an earthquake, all city police department personnel are required to report for duty.
“That’s one of the downsides of being in public service,” said Klamath Falls Police Chief Jim Hunter, noting family takes a backseat.
Officers would likely be split into two, 12-hour shifts to patrol, prevent looting, perform any needed search and rescues, and maintain traffic control.
Partnerships between agencies come into play, said Sheriff Tim Evinger.
“That’s why it’s good we train together and have those partners meet beforehand,” he said.
If state resources are requested, the Air National Guard also could get involved, said Chief Master Sgt. Patrick Walsh.
At Kingsley Field, guard members would check for structure damage and move airplanes out of the hangars.
They have access to heavy equipment and manpower, and could help the community.
“We’re there to help in every way we can,” Walsh said. “We are there to supplement and support the local authorities.”
Potential failures
The top hazard during an earthquake is a power outage that would impact lights, heat and the ability to pump gasoline, Thompson said.
Another likely failure following an earthquake is communication systems. Telephone lines could jam because of too much traffic or not work at all.
The only modes of communication that may work are public service and amateur radios, Thompson said.
What would still stand
Single-story wooden structures, even older homes, should withstand an earthquake, Thompson said.
Most damage to homes in 1993 occurred because the homes had brick chimneys that hadn’t been reinforced with steel rods.
“Wood-frame structures do pretty well in earthquakes. They have some give built into them,” agreed Rex Turner, Klamath County building inspector, “and modern buildings do quite well.”
The Oregon State Building Code undergoes changes every three years or so, but it’s for better seismic design of buildings, he said.
Existing buildings don’t have to meet the most current codes unless they are remodeled or the use of the structure changes. Over the years, more requirements have been introduced that result in the reinforcement of structures.
If an earthquake hits, the building department would send engineers to check on public buildings before private residences.
Residents are encouraged to use common sense and look for cracked walls or any obvious deformity, Turner said.
Lessons learned
Following the 1993 earthquake, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries put a lot of money into researching the region, Thompson said.
The result was hazard maps that show what land is not good for building because of its soil composition and slope.
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