Prepare for the inevitable earthquake

On Dec. 27, 2022, a predicted 11-foot tide in La Conner Channel was met with low atmospheric pressure, high river flow and a western wind. As a result the channel rose to over 14 feet and spilled over along lower places on the eastern bank, flooding parts of town and causing more than $1 million damage before receding.

The mayor and town council created an Emergency Management Commission to deal with any future floods or other natural disasters.

The sandbags that have recently been removed were placed by our incredible town public works department after working out a plan for a temporary flood wall with the EMC commission.

The winter king tide risks are over, and the sandbags have been stored until next year. The EMC has turned its attentions to other natural threats like earthquakes.

We can’t prevent or predict earthquakes. Not yet. But we can minimize their damage and facilitate recovery when they occur.

Washington state is the second most seismically active state after California. In addition to the much-trumpeted offshore subduction fault that some FEMA regional director claimed would destroy everything west of Interstate 5, there are several smaller earthquake faults within shaking distance of La Conner. Again, we can neither prevent nor predict any future quake activity on these faults. There is strong evidence they have shaken in the past and are likely to shake again.

The best we in La Conner can do is prepare for the inevitable. Such preparations will go a very long way to limit the personal and civic cost of such disasters if they come. Our EMC will be sharing recommended ways to prepare. Other communities have used them. They work. They make a real difference.

Jerry George

La Conner

George chairs the EMC.