OSU Newport facility built vertically for earthquake, tsunami

The center was completed in August of 2020 and cost about $62 million to build

by: Gabby Urenda

Posted: Feb 9, 2022 / 06:13 PM PST / Updated: Feb 9, 2022 / 06:13 PM PST

The federal government awarded millions to eight groups for the testing of wave energy technologies at an Oregon State University near Newport. (Courtesy Photo: Oregon State University)

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After a tsunami advisory on the Oregon coast last month, KOIN 6 News checked in with Oregon State University about its vertical evacuation structure in Newport.

First reported in the New York Times, there have only been two vertical evacuation structures built in the Pacific Northwest, one being OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center. The center is built to withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and has a rooftop to support up to 900 people.

Last ‘Big One’ earthquake marks 322 year anniversary

The Big One — known as the Cascadia Subduction Earthquake — that’s set to hit the Pacific Northwest would impact a 600-mile fault located 70-100 miles off the West Coast of North America.

Robert Cowen, the director of the center, said there are emergency supplies available with three different ways to access the roof.

“One is there’s a ramp that starts from the ground level and moves up along the side and then over the top of the two-story auditorium,” Cowen said. “It then completes and connects with the third story roof.”

The center was completed in August of 2020 and cost about $62 million to build. According to the university, the building is about 47-feet high and the foundation goes about 100 feet into the ground.

Steve Clark, OSU’s vice president for university relations and marketing, said the center is a way for Oregon State to showcase preparedness and resiliency.

“It provides a ramp that provides accessibility up to the rooftop and provides opportunity for those that otherwise might not be able to a nearby hill,” Clark said.

The rooftop is also available for people in the community.

Clark added that it’s important to understand that earthquakes will happen and hopes that this structure can make the Oregon coast feel supported in case of a major disaster.

Tsunami advisory ends for Oregon, Washington

“It’s important to not abandon those communities,” he said. “It’s important to provide for their safety and their preparedness.”

Cowen echoed Clark’s sentiments of leaving no one behind in case of a major earthquake and tsunami by highlighting the building’s features, which include an elevator with its own generator.

“In the event of a large seismic event, that elevator will continue to work, and it will still be able to take several hundred people up in a 15-minute period. It’s going to enable people who are already physically challenged or injured to get up to the roof if they couldn’t make it up the ramps themselves,” Cowen explained. “We also have a hardened staircase inside the building as well that would still be functional after an earthquake.”

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management encourages people to be prepared to be on their own with enough food, water and supplies for a minimum of two weeks after a major earthquake and tsunami event.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos