Be Prepared

Worried about Your Home Surviving the Next Disaster?

Construction makes a difference, but community might make a bigger one.

04/17/2024 By Brian Libby Illustrations by Joseph Laney

Not That Quake

Can a Video Game Prepare Us for the Big One?

Learning basic emergency preparedness one terrifying level at a time.

02/19/2024 By Kea Krause

Disaster Prep

How to Prepare a Portland Home for Earthquakes and Wildfire Smoke

You’re living in a disaster-prone state. Are you ready for the next one?

04/07/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen Illustrations by SanQian

Real Estate

Many Portland Office Spaces Are Empty. Why Aren’t They Being Converted to Housing?

Money, regulations, and seismic upgrades are sticking points when it comes to turning offices into apartments.

01/25/2023 By Connor Radnovich

News

Earthquake Early Warning System to Launch in Oregon

The USGS ShakeAlert system comes online here March 11 and could give users vital seconds of warning before quakes are felt.

02/18/2021 By Fiona McCann

Earthquake Preparedness Is Peace Of Mind

Forecasts show another earthquake is coming. Here are expert tips for how to prepare your home, family, and community.

02/24/2020 By Steve Gemmell

The Big One

Will Oregon Lawmakers Say Yes to More Money for Earthquake Prep?

Yes, and to the tune of $12.7 million, if Gov. Kate Brown gets her way

01/27/2020 By Julia Silverman

Earthquake

How Ready Are You for the Big One Really? Let’s Find Out.

The Portland Monthly Earthquake Preparedness Personality Test can help.

10/23/2019 By Stephanie Gehring Illustrations by Hawk Krall

Community

Meet the Woman Who Helps Immigrant and Refugee Communities Get Ready for a Massive Quake

Regina Ingabire wants everyone to know what to do when the shaking stops.

09/23/2019 By Zach Dundas

The Big One

The Portlander's Guide to Surviving the Big One

Are you ready for the Cascadia Subduction Quake? From incinerating toilets to tsunamis, here's your seismic handbook.

02/02/2018 By Portland Monthly Staff

The Big One: Be Prepared

The Portland Earthquake Survival Kit

We should prepare to spend at least one week off the grid. (Maybe six months.) Get ready for your most rustic staycation ever!

02/02/2018 By Portland Monthly Magazine

The Big One

The Big One Is Coming. What Will Happen to Portland?

The Northwest is long overdue for a devastating earthquake. Here’s what to know.

02/02/2018 By Randy Gragg With Sarah Hutchins

Earthshakers

Two Types of Quakes Bigger Than the Big One

In the Pacific Northwest, your world is far more likely to be rocked by these bad boys.

05/15/2017 By Meagan Nolan

Science

The Big One Just Got a Little More Likely

Major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes occur more often than we thought.

08/05/2016 By Marty Patail

GEAR UP

This Humble Backpack Could Save Your Life When the Big One Hits

It's actually a 72-hour survival kit.

07/08/2016 By Claire Colby

BOOKS

Alexis Smith on Her New Post-Earthquake Mystery

The Glaciers novelist shakes things up.

05/19/2016 By Fiona McCann

GEAR UP

How to Survive the End of the World (or The Big One)

This guide teaches you how to live through, say, the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

08/03/2015 By Marty Patail

URBAN FUTURES

What Will Portland Be Like After a Massive Earthquake?

The city's emergency experts provide a bracing preview of how the city will recover from the Cascadia Subduction Zone quake.

01/19/2015 Edited by Zach Dundas

BE PREPARED

The Big One: A Northwest Earthquake Survival Guide

The Cascadia Subduction Quake is coming. How bad will it be? Bad. (Maybe the worst natural disaster in US history.) Can we prepare? YES!

07/01/2014 By Randy Gragg Illustrations by Nomad With Peter Holmstrom

The Big One: Insider Tips

10 Ways to Survive an Earthquake in Portland

Carmen Merlo, former director of Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Management, argues that being ready for the Big One is as much about connection as stockpiles. But don’t forget to pack some chocolate.

06/16/2014 By Carmen Merlo