Program Name Tsunami Warning and Evacuation
Program
Administering Agency Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District
Contact Al Aya, President, Board of Directors
Cleve Rooper, District Fire Chief
Address PO Box 24, Cannon Beach, OR 97110
Telephone Number 503-436-2949
Fax Number 503-436-9639
E-mail cbrfpd@seasurf.net
The Cannon Beach Fire District (CBFD) is a popular tourist area.
During the summer thousands of tourists are visiting on any given day.
Cannon Beach suffered much damage to buildings and bridges from the 1964
Alaska Earthquake tsunami. Over the last 15 years, CBFD has taken the lead
in developing tsunami warning and evacuation plans for their community.
They developed one of the first evacuation maps in Oregon and installed
several tsunami hazard and evacuation route signs. Their new fire station
was deliberately located outside the tsunami inundation zone. They
developed a sophisticated tsunami warning system made up of several
elements that include 1) sirens with voice capability, 2) Emergency
Management Weather Information Network (EMWIN), 3) NOAA Weather Radios, 4)
emergency vehicles, and 5) and other elements. The system was established
through local initiative with funds coming exclusively from the community.
It's known as the Community Warning System (COWS). Because of all these
efforts, CBFD was the first community in Oregon to be designated as
TsunamiReady.
