Disaster Preparation - Are you ready? 

Some people may see this as strange why would a Anacortes home inspector have a disaster page? In addition to home inspection, I am also a firefighter with 30 years experience. I have been through floods, earthquakes, wildfires and winter storms. Most people don't realize that in a disaster the fire service, as well as police, get quickly overwhelmed and resources get stretched to the breaking point.  Hurricane Katrina was a good example of this happening. Even with advance warning of the hurricane local, state and federal agencies weren't prepared for the magnitude of the storm and resulting flooding. Some citizens fared very well while others didn't.

The difference? Preparation and Planning. 

 

Disasters can happen in Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Burlington, Wa., Mount Vernon, Wa. and Skagit County,  and you should be prepared for the most likely events. They are:

Earthquake

Seattle Earthquake image
Seattle WA, March 4, 2001 -- Scattered brick is all that remains of a First Ave fabric store's wall. Photo by Kevin Galvin / FEMA News Photo
The State of Washington has been reminded that we are in a high-risk area for earthquakes. On February 28, 2001 at 10:54am PST, the greater Puget Sound area experienced an earthquake of 6.8 magnitude, a depth of 31.2 miles, and centered 10.7 miles NE of Olympia, Washington. Olympia and Tacoma took the majority of the brunt of this earthquake, leaving Anacortes and Skagit County with little damage. However, recently imaging surveys have determined that there are previously unknown  faults running under Whidbey Island and near Bellingham. Each of these faults are judged to be capable of a 7.0 earthquake. As a point of reference the Loma Prieta earthquake

One might believe that once you are outside you are on solid ground, but this isn’t always the case. A significant worry is that during a shallow earthquake, area with loose soil will experience liquefaction, compounding the damage caused already by the shaking. Liquefaction occurs when an earthquake turns underground sediments to quicksand. This phenomenon happened in the 1964 Alaska earthquake in an Anchorage neighborhood. When the soil liquefied, many of the homes disappeared or were totally destroyed. Another example was the Marina District in San Francisco during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Even though San Francisco was over 60 mile away, this area experienced substantial damage while neighborhood that were just a few miles away did not. We have many areas that could experience this. Land areas that have been filled in and developed will liquefied.

Volcano

Mount St. Helens image
Mount Saint Helens as  viewed from the west side, two days before the first visible volcanic activity. Credit: Dept. of Natural Resources, State of Washington

There are five active volcanoes in Washington: 

  • Mt. Rainier 
     
  • Mt.St. Helens 
     
  • Glacier Peak 
     
  • Mt. Baker 
     
  • Mt. Adams

     Mt. Rainier presents the greatest hazard to a major population center. It is in west central Washington about two hours driving time from Seattle. It is surrounded by a circle of other cities at approximately the same distance. 

     "The potential hazards posed by Mount Rainier led to its inclusion as one of sixteen volcanoes worldwide to be designated Decade Volcanoes. The Decade Volcano initiative is part of a United Nations program aimed at better utilizing science and emergency management to reduce the severity of natural disasters. The Decade Volcanoes are the focus of coordinated earth-science studies and land-use planning to learn the best ways to reduce the risks to life and property from volcano-related hazards. Products from Decade Volcano studies at Mount Rainier will include updated maps showing the areas and levels of hazards, maps showing the locations and ages of Rainier's lavas and debris flow deposits, and reports on the style and size of selected eruptions and on the structure and makeup of the rocks forming Mount Rainier and its underpinnings."
    -

    For Skagit County,  Mt. Bake is the closest volcano approximately 35 miles east of Mt. Vernon.  Mt. Baker remains active although the last visible activity was in 1975 with Steam eruptions. Mt Baker produces small earthquakes on a regular basis. - Mt. Baker Fact sheet

    • Flood

    A flood filled the Burlington streets with water in this scene. Photo taken December 30, 1917, courtesy of Roger Fox, West Mount Vernon.
    In the past we talked about “100-year floods.” Now flooding occurs almost yearly in lowlands along river banks, lakes, and coastlines. Many communities are located in flood-prone areas because of convenient water supply, access to river shipping, the rich soil, and recreational potential.

    Federal disaster aid was made available in King and Snohomish counties in 1997 to help communities in Washington State recover from the effects of winter storms. The damage was caused by flooding, mud, and landslides that struck the state.

    We can expect continued flooding because human activities increase flooding. Paving roads and parking lots reduces water infiltration into the soil and increases the rate of runoff into streams and lakes. Clearing land for agriculture and filling cities with buildings also increase water discharge after a storm.

    Flooding can also be caused by storm surge. A recent example was Hurricane Katrina where the storm surge of over 30 ft. flooded low areas causing the majority of the damage and destruction.

     
     

    Winter Storm

    Winter Storm image
    Credit: NOAA Historical Photo Collection.
    There are several things important to remember when faced with a winter storm. Cold temperatures can cause frostbite, hypothermia, and, if prolonged, death. It can damage crops or natural vegetation, freeze and burst pipes in homes, and cause ice buildup that can sink a ship or bring down trees, electrical wires, and telephone poles. It can bring transportation to a stop, leaving a city paralyzed. Luckily, weather conditions in Anacortes and Skagit County rarely reach blizzard levels, but there have been times when a storm will move in and cause major problems for the city. Power will go down, and traffic becomes slow and dangerous with a marked increase in accidents. Traffic accidents (about 70%) and hypothermia (about 25%) are the cause of most deaths related to a storm.
     

    Tsunami

    Tsunami image
    Seward, Alaska after 1964 tsunami showing an overturned ship, demolished Texaco chemical truck, and torn-up dock strewn with logs and scrap metal. Eleven fatalities occurred in this area.
    Tsunamis are a series of giant sea waves usually caused by earthquakes. The waves may be one hundred miles apart and can reach speeds up to 600 miles per hour with wave heights over 150'. They can occur in Puget Sound and homes at sea level could be at risk. It is advisable to have a good understanding of the force of a tsunami. The last occurrence in Washington was in 1964. For more information on tsunamis and what to do in case you are threatened by one, click here for Tsunami: the Great Waves.

     
    Choose an Inspector Types of Inspections New Constructions Components Life
    Items we check Mold Inspections Pest Inspection Expansive soils
    Aluminum Wiring EIFS Meth Labs Meth Lab Cleanup
    Air Quality Water Quality Federal Pacific Panels EMF /Power lines
    Polybutylene Plumbing Meet the Inspector Customer Testimonial Published Articles
    Hardboard siding New Construction Page Septic Systems  Hall of Shame 
    First Time home buyers Crawlspaces Disaster Preparation Realtors

    Pacific Crest Inspections is a locally owned home inspection company providing home inspections, commercial inspection and pest inspections in the Bellingham, Wa. area. Pacific Crest inspections is licensed by Washington State and carries the highest certification “Certified Real Estate Inspection” offered by the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI)  Pacific Crest Inspections conducts their Washington State home inspections according to the National Association of Home Inspectors Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics. These professional home inspection standards provide a minimum guideline for conducting a Bellingham, Washington home inspection. Our home inspection standards are available for viewing under the "Consumer Information" section of our website or ask your Arizona home inspector for a copy of the NAHI Standards of Practice & Code of Ethics prior to your Bellingham home inspection.