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I suspect the bridges that are left standing will be shut down for inspection. The river water is going to be undrinkable for most peopleFEMA Region X's response plan can be accessed at the post below for a good fictional account that will put you to sleep.
FEMA CSZ Quake plans January 2022
In case anyone is interested in seeing FEMAs emergency plan for a Cascadia quake........... Rather interesting to read their assumptions about post quake conditions, resources, what will be needed for the response. Requires some reading between the lines, for example, they mention DoD resources...www.northwestfirearms.com
Have been involved in preparing for this event as a volunteer and a professional responder since 2006. Have read a great deal about it and every response plan I've read is unrealistic. It was a large factor in my reason to move from Oregon to Idaho. I asked the experts when I participated in response exercises for their no BS opinion about the resulting damage and the response; everyone said the plans are unrealistic, the damage and fatalities will be greater the estimates and it will take an unprecedented national effort that will dwarf any previous response.
And the economic impact will be massive, especially in the agricultural sector.
According to everything I've read the Cascadia quake will be at or near 9 on the earthquake scale, similar to the 1964 Alaska or the 1960 Chile quakes. Estimated shake time is 5 minutes, plus or minus, along an 800 mile crustal plate fault line about 80 miles off shore. Historically, this type of quake happens every 300 to 500 years. The last one was January of 1700.
Some evidence indicates that the subduction zone quake has in the past triggered the San Andres fault. So the impact could be very widespread.
The entire PNW, all three states, will feel the impact, not just west of the Cascades. Liquefaction will devastate many urban areas such as downtown Portland and the area near NW Yeon and the fuel tank storage sites in that part of town. It is likely that the quake will result in a very large environmental disaster with a lot of petroleum products spilling into the Willamette and then downstream to the mouth of the Columbia.
It's going to be very bad with transportation crippled, potable water and sewer damaged as well as energy for heat, lights, hospitals, etc., unavailable. Many areas, communities will be isolated with bridges and overpasses destroyed or damaged, airports out of service and potential damage to one or more of the dams on the Columbia.
It's a challenging disaster to prepare for in part because the length of time before assistance arrives may be very lengthy; months, possibly/likely many months.
