House Resolution 3 Oregon Laws 2011

Whereas Oregon is known to be seismically active, with geological faults creating earthquake hazards in most of the state, including its most highly populated counties; and

Whereas the most serious risks linked to earthquakes in Oregon are associated with the Cascadia fault, recognized as one of the world’s most dangerous faults and capable of generating megathrust earthquakes at least 1,000 times more powerful than the magnitude 6.8 Nisqually, Washington, earthquake of February 2001 and producing associated tsunamis capable of affecting extensive areas of the Oregon coast; and

Whereas geological evidence documents about 41 earthquakes of magnitude 8 and larger on sections of the Cascadia fault during the last 10,000 years, yielding an average interval between events of about 240 years; and

Whereas the most recent megathrust earthquake on the Cascadia fault, estimated to be about magnitude 9, occurred on January 26, 1700; and

Whereas many of the earthquakes on the Cascadia fault have been separated by intervals shorter than the time elapsed since the most recent Cascadia earthquake; and

Whereas an earthquake of magnitude 8 or larger and its associated tsunami would have devastating impacts to coastal communities and throughout western Oregon, causing thousands of casualties and premature deaths and inflicting tens of billions of dollars in physical damage that would have crippling impacts on the state’s economy; and

Whereas policies now in place are insufficient to protect citizens and businesses in Oregon from the ground shaking and waves associated with a Cascadia megathrust earthquake and to ensure a smooth economic recovery after that event; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

That concern for the protection of life and the resumption of commerce should guide the State of Oregon in the development and implementation of resilience policies that address the risks posed by a Cascadia megathrust earthquake and tsunami; and be it further

Resolved, That Oregon’s most forward-thinking policies and programs to advance resilience to earthquakes include the Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program, fully enacted with general obligation bond funding by the 75th Legislative Assembly in 2009; and be it further

Resolved, That the strengthening of collapse-prone public structures, including, but not limited to, K-12 schools, community colleges and public safety facilities, should be recognized by the Governor and Legislative Assembly as top investment priorities in this state’s capital budget; and be it further

Resolved, That seismic improvements to K-12 schools, community colleges and public safety facilities funded by Seismic Rehabilitation Grants should be recognized with placards affixed to the reinforced structures; and be it further

Resolved, That this state’s investment in Seismic Rehabilitation Grants and in other programs and resources to accomplish seismic upgrades of public buildings should be expanded to the extent fiscal prudence allows; and be it further

Resolved, That this state should make investments in additional evacuation options for Oregon coastal communities that cannot ensure adequate protection of their residents and visitors from tsunamis because of distance from safe ground; and be it further

Resolved, That this state should make investments necessary to establish a Critical Transportation Infrastructure providing reliable lifelines for emergency response and economic recovery in the aftermath of a Cascadia earthquake and tsunami; and be it further

Resolved, That this state should make investments necessary to establish a Critical Energy Infrastructure comprising transmission networks for electricity, liquid fuels and natural gas hardened to withstand a Cascadia earthquake and tsunami; and be it further

Resolved, That seismic resilience should be viewed as a necessary complement to environmental sustainability and endorsed as a priority by the Governor and the Legislative Assembly; and be it further

Resolved, That the Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission should lead and coordinate preparation of an Oregon Resilience Plan that reviews policy options, summarizes relevant reports and studies by state agencies and makes recommendations on policy direction to protect lives and keep commerce flowing during and after a Cascadia earthquake and tsunami; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission should enlist the participation of the Governor’s public safety advisor, state agencies, commissions and other advisory bodies, as needed, to assemble an integrated view of current state capabilities and gaps in resilience planning; and be it further

Resolved, That the Oregon Resilience Plan and recommendations should be delivered to the Legislative Assembly no later than February 28, 2013, so that the inevitable natural disaster of a Cascadia megathrust earthquake and tsunami does not cause an unprecedented catastrophe for the State of Oregon.

Filed in the office of Secretary of State April 26, 2011

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