PSU Magazine Winter 1993

The new codes cover all new struc– tures except one- and two-family dwell– ings. Upgraded standards for those structures will be addres ed separately by the tate. Thank to a team of PSU, state government and local governmental agencies, the public is getting the latest information about earthquake problem areas in the Portland vicinity through three maps scheduled to be published in January. The tate and Metropolitan Service District have completed a general earthquake hazards map. The map, which indicates areas that are most prone to the effects of an earthquake, is geared for the layman and will be sold through Metro and at the State Office Building in Portland. The discovery of faults beneath Portland is a relatively recent occur– rence, says Mabey. "Six years ago, our maps of the Portland area showed es entially no faults, but that was becau e no one had bothered to look carefully for them before," Mabey says. Work conducted by PSU's Depart– ment of Geology and the State Depart– ment of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) has lead to find– ings of numerous faults beneath Portland, "many of which are potential– ly active," says Mabey. A second Portland-area map, produced by DOGAMI, will mark earthquake amplification. Amplifica– tion refer to how hard various parts of the earth's surface shake in response to a quake. Areas where bedrock is at the surface, for example, would shake less than other areas. A third, detailed map of the immedi– ate Portland area will indicate areas susceptible to liquefaction and slope instability. The map , Mabey stres es, are a guide. "We don't know for certain where or how severe the next earthquake will be in Portland, but no matter where an earthquake occurs in the vicinity, the hazard area we're mapping will show the most impact from an earthquake," Mabey says. The Portland maps are just a start. Mabey and his colleague at DOGAMI, Ian Madin, plan to expand map coverage of the Portland area in the next year or two. And, over the next decade, Mabey and hi counterparts hope to map the remainder of Oregon's urban areas, including Salem, Corval– lis, Eugene, Medford, Klamath Falls, and vulnerable area along Oregon' coast. PSU Professor Scott Burn has been awarded a subcontract from DOGAMI to complete a geological surface survey of the Salem area. That information eventually will be recorded on a map. In addition, Bums and his student are surveying thickness of oil layers in the Portland West Hills areas, gauging slope instability there. Funding for Mabey's overall work comes from a mixture of federal and tate agencies such as the U.S. Geologi– cal Survey, Federal Emergency Manage– ment Agency, the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and the state System of Higher Education. Funding for the first series of Portland earthquake hazard maps came through a research grant from the U.S. Geological Survey. Other subsequent mapping projects must be funded through additional grants on a year-to– year basis. Maps or no maps, when it comes to earthquakes in Oregon, the future is now.D (Brian White, a Portland freelance writer, is a regular contribuwr ta PSU Magazine.) Surviving the shake Oregon may be late in jumping on the earthquake precaution bandwagon, but there are numerou things area residents can do-with little effort-to weather a severe earthquake. At home and the office, the basic advice is to tie things down. "You can make sure your light fix– tures are more securely fastened to the ceiling, and you can bolt your bookcases to the wall," says Mabey. "The biggest problems during earthquakes occur when people are hit by falling objects." Hot water heaters can be better connected to the wall with the aid of plumbers' tape and bolts. Be sure to bolt the bottom and top of the heater. The work takes less than 30 minute. You can help bolster roof again t collap ing chimney by plac– ing extra thick plywood beneath or on top of shingles around any ma onry chimney. And, if you own an old hou e, it' wise to check to see if the hou e i firmly bolted onto it foundation . Trying to place a house back on its foundation can cost ten of thou and of dollars. Earthquake drills hould soon become a familiar a fire drills to young Oregon students. The drills teach youngsters the importance of getting underneath desks or tables if a quake trikes. "Oregon schools are just starting to train student about what to do in an earthquake," says Mabey. Mabey suggestion that each household unit put together a 72-hour emergency kit. "It takes that long for some a sistance to ar– rive in the case of many earthquakes and other emergencies," he ays. Finally, if you're out ide, move away from the entrance of buildings. Move toward the street or some other open area, where there is less of a chance of falling objects hitting you.D PSU9