Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Floods

Floods are the most common and costliest natural disaster to occur. Each year, billions of dollars are spent in the U.S. on flood-related damages. Fortunately, most floods take hours or even days to develop, allowing residents sufficient time to prepare and/or evacuate. Flash floods, however, occur suddenly when heavy rainfall exceeds the absorption capacity of the soil.

Immediate flood-related hazards include injuries, drownings, hypothermia, and electrocution from downed power lines. Of course, floods pose a number of residual risks as well. One example is the increased transmission of communicable diseases. A lot of people assume that floodwater and rainwater are the same, when in reality, floodwater is often contaminated with pathogens, raw sewage, fuel, pesticides, sharp objects, and other harmful materials. Stagnant water is also an excellent breeding ground for disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

For more flood safety information, use the resources below.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are caused by the sudden lateral or vertical movement of colliding rock within the Earth¡¯s crust. This abrupt release of friction causes the earth¡¯s surface to shake, sometimes violently. As a result, this can cause structures to collapse, objects to fall and break, gas and power lines to rupture, dams and levees to fail, liquefaction to occur, and tsunamis to take place. Needless to say, earthquakes can be very dangerous!

Here in the Pacific Northwest, many scientists believe that a megathrust earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone is overdue. For those of you who did not know, the Cascadia Subduction Zone is just off the coast to our west, and megathrust earthquakes are said to be the most powerful.

Just how bad do scientists believe the next ¡°big one¡± will be, and what should we do to prepare? Use the resources below to learn more.

Extreme heat

Extreme heat becomes a concern when external temperatures hinder the body¡¯s ability to regulate internal temperatures. Excessive heat is not only discomforting, it can cause significant health concerns, which in extreme cases, can lead to unconsciousness or even death. Climate scientists have shown that the temperature in the Pacific Northwest has been on the rise and that this trend is expected to continue. These stagnant atmospheric conditions occur when climatic temperatures of 10 degrees or more above average are sustained for a significant period of time. Additionally, in humid conditions evaporation is slowed and the body must work harder to maintain a safe internal temperature. Extreme heat can also occur in enclosed environments such as a confined space where machinery or equipment is generating a large amount of heat, or when confined areas are subjected to radiant or solar heat in which individuals are unable to relocate to cooler conditions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat results in the death of over 600 people in the United States each year. Those most impacted by such harmful effects include younger children, those requiring mobility assistance, those who are ill or overweight, older populations, and pets. To reduce complications related to extreme heat, individuals should limit strenuous activities and exercise to the coolest parts of the day, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, drink non-alcoholic beverages frequently, and whenever possible, relocate to areas where fans and air conditioning are utilized.

Learn more about how to protect yourself from heat-related illness using the resources below.

Landslides and debris flows

Landslides and debris flows are the downward movement of water, rock, soil, clay, and other debris which can not only block roads and highways and sweep cars and homes away, the tremendously heavy river of ground matter can trap and sweep individuals away as well. Most people correlate landslides with rainy conditions occurring over sloping land with little or no vegetation to stabilize the ground and hold it in place. Snowmelt over porous soil also triggers landslides which can travel miles from the source of the melting ice. Warming climatic conditions and greenhouse gasses also contribute to the changes that leave the earth vulnerable in much the same way. Thawing permafrost resulting from the loss of ice below these frozen land masses results in ground that is unstable and more likely to move during heavy downpours, or when earthquakes, volcanoes, or avalanches occur.

Use the resources below to learn how you can protect yourself from landslides and debris flows.

Tsunamis

A tsunami is a series of large, vertical waves caused by a massive disturbance to ocean water. Tsunamis are caused by volcanic eruptions, underwater earthquakes or landslides, and meteor impacts.

Did you know that 80% of all tsunamis occur along the Pacific ¡°Ring of Fire,¡± which runs along the coast of Oregon? When tsunamis occur, large waves and the rapid surge of extremely turbulent sea water can move inward for miles causing widespread death and destruction.

Learn more about tsunami safety by using the resources below.

Fires (structural fires and wildfires)

Both structural and environmental fires can impact people living in the Portland Metro area. Structural fires are those involving residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Wildfires typically consume combustible vegetation and are frequently fanned by strong winds allowing them to spread over large areas of land before being contained. Smoke, heat, and reduced visibility can easily hinder an individual¡¯s efforts to escape from a fire. Likewise, the quality of air in and around these fires can irritate a person¡¯s eyes and cause serious respiratory concerns.

For fire safety information, use the resources below.

Inclement weather, severe storms, and tornadoes

More information coming soon.

HAZMAT incidents

More information coming soon.

Communicable diseases

More information coming soon.

Utility disruptions and failures

More information coming soon.

Bomb Threats and Suspicious Packages

More information coming soon.