“Preparing for a Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunami: A Land Use Guide for Oregon Coastal Communities” prepared by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), was released on January 17, 2014. This tsunami land use guidance was developed by DLCD in partnership with a diverse and capable advisory committee comprised of representatives of local government and state agencies assisted by Cogan Owens Cogan, a multi-disciplinary consulting firm. Advisory committee members from local governments included representatives from the cities of Cannon Beach, Coos Bay, Depoe Bay, Lincoln City, Manzanita, Seaside, Waldport, Yachats, and also included Coos County.
The purpose of the guidance is to assist vulnerable communities as they incorporate tsunami resilience measures into their local land use programs. The land use guide is designed to be tailored by communities to address their individual tsunami risk and location, and provides comprehensive information focused on land use planning approaches to reduce tsunami hazard risk and implement important land use resilience measures. The guidance includes:
- Sample tsunami-related comprehensive land use plan text and policies
- Information on needed map amendments
- Tsunami hazard overlay (THO) zone model to implement resilience measures
- Tsunami land use strategy financing and incentive concepts
- Tsunami evacuation route plan assistance
- Information relating to pre-disaster community land use planning for a Cascadia event tsunami
- Web links to other helpful information
The guide’s model comprehensive plan, zoning code and other provisions are designed to be used with the new Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Tsunami Inundation Maps (TIMs). The guide is web based with links to other resources.
“The Japan earthquake and tsunami are what we can expect here in Oregon. This is a serious threat to our coast and we need to prepare now. We should have a sense of urgency! This information should be at the core of community preparation.” Mark Barnes, Planning Director for the City of Cannon Beach and advisory committee member, added, “This is useful guidance for any coastal community; highly recommended.”