Tsunami Awareness on Oregon Coast

Administering Agency: Canadian Red Cross, Yukon District

Address: 31 Banchard Road, Whitehorse, Yukon

Telephone: 403 667-4661

The program has been operating: 2 Months

The major purpose of the program and the problem(s) or issue(s) is designed to address:

Raise public awareness through a privately sponsored monthly contest with Whitehorse STAR donating space, Tim Hortons donating a monthly prize, Horison graphics donating design and Red Cross donating a prize and developing concept.

Monthly draws, 3 insertions per month for full year

This program’s new and creative approach or method:

Yes - Private sector partnership to foster awareness

Program’s start-up costs: $0

Source(s): All costs donated

Program’s annual operating costs: $0

Source(s): All costs donated

Number of full-time equivalent employees working with this program: 0

Did this program originate in your state: Yes

Are similar program in other states?: No

This program has been fully implemented: Yes

Yes - prize have been awarded starting April 1996

No - Opportunity for corporate/NGO sponsors to affiliate with very positive public relations initiative.

Additional comments: Yukon EMO developed questions and supported Red Cross in this worthwhile initiative.

Tsunami Awareness on Oregon Coast

Telephone: 503-731-4100

Fax: 503-731-4066

The program has been operating: 1 Year

The major purpose of the program and the problem(s) or issue(s) is designed to address:

The purpose is to educate coastal residents and tourists about the cause of and emergency response to Cascadia tsunamis, a regional hazard.

The tsunami signs have been installed at the new aquarium in Newport, the visitors center in Reedsport, and near a major resort hotel in Seaside. Unveiling ceremonies for new signs involve legislators, local officials, and print and TV media.

The program involves public education through the installation of large, permanent colored signs which describe the tsunami hazard. These signs have been installed at locations which have hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

Program’s start-up costs: 15,500

Source(s): State lottery funds and community partners

Program’s annual operating costs: 12,000

Source(s): State lottery funds and community partners

Number of full-time equivalent employees working with this program: .1

Did this program originate in your state: Yes

Are similar program in other states?: No

This program has been fully implemented: Yes - Additional signs will be installed in coastal communities which have high tourist populations and vulnerability to the tsunami hazard.

The media coverage of the tsunami signs has amplified the mitigation message. The interest of other coastal communities in installation of similar signs is further evidence of the success of the program.

The principal limitation is the time needed for discussion with local partners to obtain ideal locations with a high volume of visitor traffic. Examples of the tsunami signs are attached, showing the use of graphics and text. Partners in the program include Oregon Department of Transportation, FEMA, and Oregon Travel Information Council.