Reducing Vulnerability of Ports and Harbors to Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards

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Abstract

Recent scientific research suggests the Pacific Northwest could experience catastrophic earthquakes in the near future, both from distant and local sources, posing a significant threat to coastal communities. Damage could result from numerous earthquake-related hazards, such as severe ground shaking, soil liquefaction, landslides, land subsidence/uplift, and tsunami inundation. Because of their geographic location, ports and harbors are especially vulnerable to these hazards. Ports and harbors, however, are important components of many coastal communities, supporting numerous activities critical to the local and regional economy and possibly serving as vital post-event, response-recovery transportation links. A collaborative, multi-year initiative is underway to increase the resiliency of Pacific Northwest ports and harbors to earthquake and tsunami hazards, involving Oregon Sea Grant (OSG), Washington Sea Grant (WSG), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Services Center (CSC), and the U.S. Geological Survey Center for Science Policy (CSP). Specific products of this research, planning, and outreach initiative include a regional stakeholder issues and needs assessment, a community-based mitigation planning process, a Geographic Information System (GIS) — based vulnerability assessment methodology, an educational web-site and a regional data archive. This paper summarizes these efforts, including results of two pilot port-harbor community projects, one in Yaquina Bay, Oregon and the other in Sinclair Inlet, Washington. Finally, plans are outlined for outreach to other port and harbor communities in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, using "getting started" workshops and a web-based tutorial.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Reducing Vulnerability of Ports and Harbors to Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards
DOI 10.1061/40605(258)81
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher American Society of Civil Engineers
Description 15 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Coastal Disasters Conference 2002
First page 949
Last page 963
Conference Title Coastal Disasters Conference 2002
Conference Location San Diego, CA
Conference Date February 24-27, 2002
Country United States
State Oregon, Washington
City Sinclair Inlet, Yaquina Bay
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