SB 1537: Resiliency – Shake Alert. Testimony to Committee

Governor Brown’s Resiliency Agenda, SB 1537, is a proactive measure that includes investments to prepare communities for a Cascadia , investments that include building infrastructure and improving citizenship awareness and education that will ultimately save lives.

I want to especially speak in support of the Shake Alert Earthquake Early Warning System, which will provide critical warning alerts to Oregonians, as long as we step up and ensure they have the funding they need to make the system complete and reliable. This investment will help fill the gap on the west coast and allow Oregon to join and —completing the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network along the west coast.

Just last week our State Treasurer explained that a major Cascadia earthquake would have a debilitating impact on our economy, and that state treasurers for Washington and California and Oregon are urging lawmakers in all three states to make critical investment in preparedness technology, like ShakeAlert.

ShakeAlert not an experiment. It is proven early warning technology that has helped save lives and infrastructure around the world. These warning systems are already in use in California and other countries around the world.

Shake Alert would provide Oregonians with warning before strong shaking arrives, so they have the chance to get to safe places, hospitals can switch to generators, and utilities can shut down systems before the quake, critical infrastructure can be preserved, and emergency responders can prepare to deploy as soon as the shaking stops.

Once Oregon has the appropriate sensor density to participate in ShakeAlert, the federal government (USGS) will assume responsibility for operations and maintenance costs of the west coast network.

The proposal also funds critical positions with the Office of Emergency Management to conduct an educational outreach campaign to raise public awareness of the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning system and educate the public on protective measures to be taken in case of an earthquake.

This bill will save lives and is an investment that prepares us all to be ready following a disaster.