Magnitude 5.0 earthquake off Oregon coast brings back memories of devastating tsunamis

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Some may remember the Japanese tsunami that struck the Oregon coast in 2011.

Dozens of boats were found smashed together while other boats sank in the sea. Then more than a year later, a six-foot-tall dock believed to have come from Japan washed ashore in Newport. Then, in 2022, a volcanic eruption more than 5,000 miles away sent waves crashing onto the Oregon coast, triggering a tsunami warning.

“I thought it was going to be worse than it was, but it was just the volcano erupting underwater and it ended up being a two-meter wave,” recalls Steven Guasp, a chef at Newport Cafe. “It was really a reality check that examined the seriousness of what could potentially happen if you lived on the coast.”

On Thursday, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred. The U.S. Geological Survey said it happened about 75 miles from Coos Bay.

“My mother is very worried about the tsunamis that could come. So she was pretty stressed out,” said Zachary Cromwell, manager at Newport Café. “I didn't see it as anything too significant because I did it.” I don't feel anything.

Earthquakes are common off the Oregon coast because it lies on the Cascadia subduction zone, but they are also a reminder of how vulnerable the region can be.

According to FEMA, the risk of a tsunami in Newport is about 100 times greater than the risk of a tornado anywhere in the United States.

“Since 2011, Newport, Oregon has worked to increase the safety of its residents and businesses from the threat of a tsunami,” a FEMA report said. “Working with other public and private entities, the city has identified and upgraded a tsunami staging area, 'Safe Haven Hill.'

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management said it has been working with cities and counties to help locals and officials prepare for the major emergency.

“We're really trying to understand what the threat is and how we can best prepare for it and take action to mitigate the impact,” William Chapman of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management told KATU.

The quake occurred on the same day that more than 530,000 Oregonians attended the annual Great Oregon Shakeout, according to OEM.

However, some say they did not receive any notification from the My Shake Alert app.

“The Oregon Department of Emergency Management did not raise any alarms. The My Shake app triggered a test alarm on its system. It’s run by UC Berkeley down in California,” Chapman said.

Most hope the region will never experience Alaska's 9.0 magnitude earthquake again. It triggered a devastating tsunami near Newport in 1965, killing five people.

“The Oregon Legislature invested in this system a few years ago to complete the buildout and deploy these seismic sensors throughout Oregon. So we can get that early warning, maybe 30 seconds to a few minutes of warning, and spread that warning so people can get out of cover and persevere,” Chapman said. “This system can also be integrated into critical infrastructure facilities, for example.”

“Maybe they get a few minutes' warning and can, for example, shut off a pipeline or open garage doors at fire facility bays and get fire engines out, things like that, or turn off the water and so on.” “Mitigate that source of damage,” Chapman told KATU. “We have also invested in our own alert and warning system called or Alert. We just launched our B2 Weeks Ready program preparedness campaign to get that message out here and help Oregonians know they need to be prepared for this threat.”