Rep. Bonamici Meets with Coastal Emergency Managers to Discuss Disaster Preparedness

Beaverton, OR — Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici emphasized the importance of planning and disaster preparedness for Oregon’s coastal communities during a meeting today in Astoria with local emergency managers, county planners, and community groups.

“Oregon’s coastal communities face the complicated task of having to prepare for an impending Cascadia earthquake, a seismic event on a scale these communities have never experienced,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “I’m meeting with members of the North Coast emergency management community to learn more about ongoing hazard planning and response activities and to brainstorm ideas about how federal resources can better support local efforts to increase coastal resilience to disasters.”

Congresswoman Bonamici is working on legislation to enhance tsunami warning and education and used today’s meeting to gather input for her legislation.

“This meeting was part of an ongoing conversation about how we can work together to improve hazard preparedness. We are fortunate to know the risk is there; now we have a responsibility to help our communities prepare,” Congresswoman Bonamici said. “The effects of an earthquake and tsunami could be dire if we do not take the necessary steps now to prepare. Coordinating with other agencies at the state and local level will help avoid potentially catastrophic damage that was outlined last year in the Oregon Resilience Plan. In order to preserve Oregon’s coast and maintain safety for residents we need to continue this conversation.”

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