Oregon Hospital and Water System Earthquake Risk Evaluation Pilot Study

The goal of this project was to evaluate the risk of hospitals and water systems from earthquakes triggered by the Cascadia subduction zone. The authors used a model and estimated the following results from major earthquake shaking (magnitude 9): "$5.1 billion in building losses, up to 80,000 damaged buildings...up to 12,500 displaced people, and about 1,900 people requiring public shelter. Human suffering in the area is estimated to be up to 2,000 people requiring medical aid, up to 600 people requiring hospital care, up to 90 people with life-threatening injuries, and up to 180 fatalities." Graphics and tables help illustrate the challenges and the author lists hospital and community resilience strategies in Section 4.2.