One of Jim Buck’s presentations, "After the Impact," was intended to begin discussions about how isolated communities might deal with their own problems until enough outside assistance is re-established to move injured out and supplies in. Communities in lower priority areas, like ours, will need to be self-sustaining for weeks. Jim’s goal was to discuss impacts of with context of a hypothetical scenario, including impacts on the population, first responders and volunteers, facilities, and the effect a massive quake would have on the ability of people to help with response. The presentation also discussed the community plan for Joyce, Washington.
The time of day and time of year will, of course, alter response plans and the early-responder / volunteer dynamic. These variables will also influence rescue activities and recon of damage. They are important considerations (i.e. nice summer day vs lousy winter night). The effects of date, time and weather will also determine one’s location – at work, at school, at day care, at home or in transit – and one's mindset when the event occurs.
Click on boldface title at right to view Jim Buck's 114-slide presentation which includes hypothetical Joyce scenarios following a 9.2 CSZ earthquake striking 130 miles off the Pacific Northwest Coast with a duration of 4.5 minutes. His presentation addresses the impacts of significant subsidence, a predicted tsunami, road damage, collapsed buildings and bridges, utility and communications failures, near-shore evacuations, and preparation for sheltering-in-place. The scenario examines what Joyce residents would need to do immediately after the initial shake and in the days to follow. It also explains how an orderly emergency response might be staged locally and in cooperation with the county EOC, and how available personnel and assets might be mobilized.
Click on the boldface title at right to view a "Bridge Seismic Screening Tool (BSST) Assessment" summarizing projected reopening times of highway bridges in Washington State after the CSZ scenario earthquake. The report indicates, for example, that the Rt. 112 Elha River Bridge is likely to take from 1.5 to 2+ years to rebuild. This raises serious concerns for Joyce area residents and should be factored into disaster planning.