The GIS Integration and Development Program

Grant Project Summary: Oregon State University

Test Reducing Earthquake-Tsunami Hazards in Pacific Northwest Ports and Harbors

October 1999 to September 2001Grant Project Area Map

Project Summary

This project supported earthquake-tsunami hazard mitigation and preparedness planning for ports and harbors in the Pacific Northwest region led by researchers at Oregon State University and the University of Washington. The overall goal was to increase the resilience of west coast ports, harbors, and their surrounding communities to earthquake and local and distant tsunami hazards. Through this partnership with Oregon State and Washington, NOAA helped develop formal relationships among a variety of federal and state agencies in the Pacific Northwest region to assess natural hazard vulnerability. The first component of the project involved conducting a region–wide assessment of issues and needs. The information gained from the assessment was utilized in the development of a hazard mitigation planning and analysis model with components that focused on assessing risk, vulnerability, alternative strategies, and sources of technical and financial resources.

Two consecutive pilot projects were carried out in demonstration ports to implement and evaluate the methodology, with recommendations stemming from the first project incorporated into the methodology before the start of the second project. The development of the planning model was documented on the Web site, which was developed by the Center with assistance from Oregon and Washington Sea Grant. The results of the project along with other resources contained on the Web site, such as a hazard glossary, interactive hazard maps, and a port and harbor atlas, were used in a series of outreach training programs for port and harbor communities throughout the Pacific Northwest interested in developing an earthquake-tsunami hazard mitigation plan.

NOAA Coastal Services Center's Role

This was a grant project and NOAA did not have substantial involvement with the work.

Grantee Overview

Oregon State University dates back to 1858 when it was established as a private academy in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU is a comprehensive, public, research university, and a member of the Oregon University System. It is the state's land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution, and has programs located in every county of the state. Oregon State University views the state of Oregon as its campus, and works in partnership with Oregon community colleges and other Oregon university institutions to provide access to educational programs. Oregon State University aspires to stimulate a lasting attitude of inquiry, openness, and social responsibility.

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