I read that article and the follow-up by the author regarding the “toast” comment. She (the author) went in more detail over the possible results of a massive quake. Stuff like power out for 30(?) days, water out for 60(?) days, 70%(?) of the bridges not usable.
She said something like: “It isn’t all going to be flattened, but it will be severely damaged - so yeah, I think ‘toast’ covers the above scenario.
When we vacation on the WA coast I always make sure we have a place to stay that is high up. Some day it will happen. Probably not in my lifetime, but...
“Our operating assumption is that everything west of Interstate 5 will be toast.”was made by FEMA regional manager Kenneth Murphy, just another dumbass bureaucrat talking out his backside...the implication being that everything east of I5 would 'not' be toast.
I worked with emergency management in the region for a number of years, mostly in my county; the New Yorker article - and, by consequence, FEMA - was roundly mocked by all by volunteers, county, city, and state officials alike.
Armchair quarterback this all you like, but the ONLY evidence of prior Cascadia events have been found on the coast and the best evidence of the impact of such an event is given by the Tohoku event.
That stated (the latter), I've made biting commentary in the past decade about the glaring lack of earthquake damage in 2011 which was NOT caused by tsunami, yet emotional misfits - even some so-called conservatives - insist on being consumed by the scaremongering.
The proper response is righteous critique of government for the lack of action (strengthened building codes, adequate emergency shelters/supplies, transportation contingencies, public maps of said emergency locations...the list of unfulfilled obligations is endless).
Oregon/Washington are ill-prepared for even a minor event, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the hype they project on the 'big one' (save for the distraction it provides).
There is little doubt that they have a plan which eclipses the virus lockdowns by an order of magnitude.
The only saving grace of such actions is that the event which precedes them will render most cctv inoperative for those who will fight the tyrants.
Don't fall into the trap laid out by public officials. Free advice.