Re: [californiadisasters] Fwd: Medford fears isolation after major earthquake

Highway 97 is not that great of a seismic lifeline. The last "major"
event was 1996 I think? A 5.5 and big boulders rained down on the
vehicles.....
--
Brandie Oregon Zone 5
http://sustainablegardening.yolasite.com/


On 3/20/13, Lin Kerns <linkerns@gmail.com> wrote:
> Medford fears isolation after major earthquake
> The Associated Press
> Published: Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2013
>
> MEDFORD, Ore. -- Officials in Medford say an emerging state plan for
> recovering from a major earthquake would keep their region isolated for a
> lengthy period because repair efforts to get traffic moving north-south
> would be focused east of the Cascade Range.
>
> The plan calls for making a priority of repairs to U.S. Highway 97 through
> Klamath Falls. The highway runs north from Interstate 5 in Northern
> California and along the eastern flank of the Cascades.
>
> It connects to Eugene through Oregon 58 across the mountains to the
> Willamette Valley and to Portland by Interstate 84 in the Columbia Gorge.
>
> In planning for "the big one," the Oregon Department of Transportation has
> identified Highway 97 through Klamath Falls as the "seismic lifeline" route
> through the southern portion of the state, the Medford Mail Tribune (
> http://bit.ly/ZYalKZ) reported.
>
> Medford officials worry the plan would bypass the mountainous stretch of
> Interstate 5 in southwestern Oregon.
>
> To avoid economic chaos, Medford officials say, they'll need to plan for
> such measures as improving an I-5 viaduct in the city or planning an
> alternate route around the city.
>
> "From an emergency perspective, we know we will be on our own for a while,"
> City Councilor Al Densmore said.
>
> The transportation department has attempted to identify the most
> cost-effective routes to move traffic and supplies through the state as it
> attempts to prepare for a major quake, said spokesman Gary Leaming.
>
> He said the hardest hit area from a major quake likely would be Southern
> Oregon, especially areas along U.S. 101 south of Coos Bay. He said that
> coastal area would be particularly isolated by a big quake.
>
> "It will be so catastrophic," Leaming said. "We'll be hard-pressed to get
> goods and services into that area for a while. It will be a region-wide
> crisis."
>
> The department prepared a March 14 letter to legislative committees on
> emergency preparedness to explain the potential impacts, and a full report
> is expected in a few weeks.
>
> The department projects damage to the state's highway system would result
> in an economic loss of $350 billion over eight to 10 years.
> http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/19/5275917/medford-fears-isolation-after.html
> --
>
>
> V <http://goog_333603103>ei8 <http://goog_333603103>-Volcanoes of the World
> Webcams <http://vei8home.blogspot.com/>
> Roxxfoxx~~Adventures in Geology <http://1roxxfoxx.blogspot.com/>
> Penguin News Today <http://penguinnewstoday.blogspot.com/>
> Penguinology: The Science of Penguins <http://penguinology.blogspot.com/>
> Gentoo Penguins of Gars O'Higgins Station,
> Antarctica<http://wiinterrr.blogspot.com/>
> Canis lupus 101 <http://canislupus101.blogspot.com/>
> Through Golden Eyes <http://throughgoldeneyes.blogspot.com/>
> Follow me on Pinterest <http://pinterest.com/wiinterrr/>!
>


------------------------------------

Be sure to check out our Links Section at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/links
Please join our Discussion Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters_discussion/ for topical but extended discussions started here or for less topical but nonetheless relevant messages.Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/californiadisasters/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
californiadisasters-digest@yahoogroups.com
californiadisasters-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
californiadisasters-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/