14K evacuees expected in region

Editor’s note: This story is not real. The earthquake didn’t happen — not yet, anyway. But experts say it’s only a matter of time until Cascadia Fault sets off a disaster of historic proportions on the coast that will also have a dramatic impact throughout the Northwest, including North Idaho.

Over the next three days, numerous agencies will be responding to the fictional disaster in region-wide training exercises. The Hagadone News Network will be treating these exercises as an actual news event to try to relay the importance of efficient and effective response.

By BRIAN WALKER

Hagadone News Network

COEUR d'ALENE — Expecting an estimated 14,000 evacuees coming to Kootenai County from the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated the West Coast, North Idaho officials on Wednesday called for the activation of local emergency shelters and other services to assist victims.

Government officials estimate there have been 13,000 deaths from northern California to British Columbia, 27,000 people injured and one million people displaced.

Roughly 40,000 victims are expected to arrive in Idaho for help, about a quarter of whom are anticipated to arrive in Kootenai County.

Sandy Von Behren, the county's Office of Emergency Management director, said the American Red Cross is setting up an emergency shelter and the Panhandle Health District a medical needs shelter at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds today.

"Kootenai County has made a disaster declaration as has the state of Idaho," Von Behren said during a conference call on Wednesday with emergency responders at the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. "We anticipate needing external resources to assist so that's the reason for the declaration."

Von Behren said local businesses such as gas stations, hotels and grocery stores have already reported an increase in business from local residents anticipating evacuees coming to this area.

Tracy Turnbow, manager of Super 1 Foods in Coeur d'Alene, said his store has a 10-day supply of inventory and can draw items from the company's warehouse in Spokane. However, if the situation worsens and the company has to rely on receiving goods directly from manufacturers east of here, it may take two or three days for items to arrive.

The company's supply line has been hampered as it has distribution centers in Portland and Seattle — both are areas devastated by the tsunami.

"Our biggest challenge will be keeping the products coming in," Turnbow said during the phone conference.

Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Chris Case said the situation hasn't risen to the level of looting, but that wouldn't be unheard of either, so deputies are on alert.

Kootenai County Commissioner said a hazardous materials incident on Interstate 90 last year caused traffic snarls so he encouraged all law enforcement agencies and the Idaho Transportation Department to coordinate efforts to keep traffic flowing.

With the increase in traffic, Case said more traffic accidents are expected as a result.

The Civil Air Patrol is on standby to monitor the roads from the air.

Jay Baker of the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security said communication problems are expected and power outages have wreaked havoc on the coast. He said amateur radio operators are available should phone issues arise.

Representatives of agencies ranging from the Idaho Army National Guard to the Coeur d'Alene Tribe said they are prepared to assist with housing and other needs.

Von Behren said three buses transporting 35 patients from an assisted living facility are expected to arrive at the shelters at the fairgrounds today.

Several agencies will staff the emergency operations center at the sheriff's office starting at 8 this morning to coordinate efforts throughout the county aimed at assisting victims.

"We're hearing that some people may stay in their cars on the street, so that's a concern to local residents," Von Behren said. "We'll need to deal with that as well."

Eberlein suggested fuel tankers be set aside so the county has that fuel available for emergency needs.

Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts said that, if local shelters are full, Farragut State Park may be an option to serve the evacuees.

Jeremy Evans of Kootenai Health said the hospital hasn't seen an influx of people seeking medical assistance yet, but it will activate its emergency operations plan to be prepared.

The earthquake that inundated the coast on just after 8 on Tuesday morning measured 9.0 on the Richter scale and was centered 95 miles east of Eugene, Ore. It triggered a tsunami as tall as an eight-story building in some spots, overwhelming hospitals, taking out bridges and roads and knocking out electrical grids from Vancouver Island to northern California.

The tsunami is comparable to the one that hit Japan in 2011 and killed nearly 16,000 people.

Shaking from the quake could be felt along the coast and as far east as Spokane.

The devastation eerily comes after numerous agencies throughout the region had prepared for this very cataclysmic rupturing of the 700-mile Cascadia Subduction Zone that has occurred.

About 20,000 people from local, state and federal agencies from throughout the Northwest and British Columbia participated in the exercise organized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The zone, which stretches from northern California to Canada, averages a catastrophic quake every 300 to 500 years. The last one prior to this occurred 316 years ago.

Scientists discovered the quake's potential about 30 years ago.