WASHINGTON COASTAL HAZARDS RESILIENCE NETWORK
Our goal is to strengthen the resilience of Washington’s coastal communities through collaboration, education, and knowledge exchange. This website provides a curated selection of relevant science, best practices, and other resources related to coastal hazards in Washington.
This website will guide you in the process of learning about coastal hazards, direct you to Washington-specific tools and resources, provide you with examples of projects happening along the coast, and connect you with people who are involved in this work.
Featured
New Manual for Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Structures Just Released
By Michael Godfried, Senior Planner, UW Institute for Hazard Mitigation Planning & Research
Washington State Emergency Management Division has just released the Manual for Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Structures. The Manual was produced by the University of Washington Institute for Hazards Mitigation Planning and Research and funded by a National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Please go to the following link: https://www.mil.wa.gov/tsunami
The Manual provides a process for communities to follow to plan, fund and build these structures and includes guidance on specific roles, funding sources and recommendations. Over 30 interviews and 2 public meetings in Ocean Shores and Aberdeen helped to inform the content of the Manual. The appendices document the public process and list valuable resources for communities.
Washington State Emergency Management Division has just released the Manual for Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Structures. The Manual was produced by the University of Washington Institute for Hazards Mitigation Planning and Research and funded by a National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Please go to the following link: https://www.mil.wa.gov/tsunami
The Manual provides a process for communities to follow to plan, fund and build these structures and includes guidance on specific roles, funding sources and recommendations. Over 30 interviews and 2 public meetings in Ocean Shores and Aberdeen helped to inform the content of the Manual. The appendices document the public process and list valuable resources for communities.
From the Manual Executive Summary:
Coastal communities that lack sufficient natural or artificial high ground are particularly vulnerable. Residents, employees, and visitors will have limited time to evacuate to safety. For at-risk communities, tsunami vertical evacuation structures are a way to save lives. Evacuation structures are designed to withstand an earthquake, aftershocks, liquefaction, and multiple tsunami waves. They can be included as part of a new building or be a standalone tower or berm. Evacuation structures have performed successfully in Japan and have also been built in New Zealand. In 2016, the Ocosta Elementary School was completed with an evacuation area above the gymnasium. This school, located near Westport, Washington, is the first tsunami vertical evacuation structure to be built in North America.
Communities on Washington State’s Pacific Ocean coastline have limited resources. Unlike California and Oregon, Washington State’s major ports, infrastructure and associated funding resources are concentrated in the Puget Sound and along the Columbia River and not along the Washington coast. Tsunami vertical evacuation structures are complex and relatively new. Building these high-performance structures requires a variety of partners and expertise. Communities also have to administer a robust public engagement process to build support, plan, and determine funding options. Given all these factors, Washington State Emergency Management Division (EMD) felt that it was important to provide coastal communities with a manual that could help them navigate this process and protect their communities.”
“Washington State has the second-highest earthquake risk in the United States. Western Washington has several active faults that impact communities along its coastlines. The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), just off the Pacific Ocean coastline, runs from Northern California up to Canada and is capable of generating a magnitude 9 earthquake. Earthquakes are a major source for tsunamis in Washington State. A local CSZ tsunami will leave some coastal communities with as little as 15 to 20 minutes to evacuate and is estimated to cause over 8,000 fatalities. Distant tsunamis, coming from as far away as Alaska and Japan, allow for significantly more warning time.
Coastal communities that lack sufficient natural or artificial high ground are particularly vulnerable. Residents, employees, and visitors will have limited time to evacuate to safety. For at-risk communities, tsunami vertical evacuation structures are a way to save lives. Evacuation structures are designed to withstand an earthquake, aftershocks, liquefaction, and multiple tsunami waves. They can be included as part of a new building or be a standalone tower or berm. Evacuation structures have performed successfully in Japan and have also been built in New Zealand. In 2016, the Ocosta Elementary School was completed with an evacuation area above the gymnasium. This school, located near Westport, Washington, is the first tsunami vertical evacuation structure to be built in North America.
Communities on Washington State’s Pacific Ocean coastline have limited resources. Unlike California and Oregon, Washington State’s major ports, infrastructure and associated funding resources are concentrated in the Puget Sound and along the Columbia River and not along the Washington coast. Tsunami vertical evacuation structures are complex and relatively new. Building these high-performance structures requires a variety of partners and expertise. Communities also have to administer a robust public engagement process to build support, plan, and determine funding options. Given all these factors, Washington State Emergency Management Division (EMD) felt that it was important to provide coastal communities with a manual that could help them navigate this process and protect their communities.”
Upcoming Events
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Tue
21
North Pacific Coast Marine Resource Committee meeting
January 21 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Mon
27
Wahkiakum County Marine Resources Committee meeting
January 27 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Feb
18
North Pacific Coast Marine Resource Committee meeting
February 18 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Introducing a new option for connecting with CHRN: Open Form/Drop-in Office Hours!
We are happy to announce that we are now offering “office hours” in the form of a virtual open forum/drop-in option. This new opportunity spawns from 2024 Annual Meeting Feedback, which included lots of interest in connecting more frequently with other CHRN members throughout the year. Helpful info:
- What: Open Forum/Drop-In Office Hours
- Why: Ask questions to CHRN coordinators and Members, provide and receive updates on coastal resilience work, connect with other Members, etc.
- When: CHRN coordinators will be available for 45 min after each CHRN Lunch & Learn event for the Open Forum/Drop-in, see Lunch and Learn Series page here. The next Open Forum/Drop-in office hours will be November 19 at 12pm (following the Lunch & Learn from 11am-12pm).
- How: Zoom meeting (use this link here).
- Who: Anyone is invited to hop in to these! Drop-in to ask questions, provide updates, or just to say hello!
The contents of this website, including the blog and links to other sites, are provided for informational use and may not reflect the positions and priorities of all network members, including Washington Sea Grant and the Department of Ecology. Comments posted to this site do not constitute formal public comment. Washington Department of Ecology, Washington Sea Grant, and network members do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of information contained on any linked websites.
