Can what happened with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf States happen here?
Yes, but it won’t be a hurricane. The event will likely be an earthquake with a magnitude of 8-9.0. The Cascadia Subduction Zone, just off of our coast, is capable of generating a catastrophic earthquake that will impact a huge segment of the Pacific Northwest, from British Columbia to northern California. Although the scope of the disaster will be similar, we will not have some of the specific problems encountered with Hurricane Katrina. For instance, an earthquake does not typically require evacuation of an area. In addition to local first responders and officials continuing to do regular disaster drills to keep their skills and resources ready for a big emergency, there are many basic emergency preparedness steps that citizens can take to make sure they aren’t stranded without food, water, and basic sanitation.
