Washington's coastal communities are battening down the hatches with the launch of a new tsunami strategy aimed at shoring up the Port of Anacortes. Partnering with the Washington Geological Survey, Skagit County Department of Emergency Management, and the port's key stakeholders, the Washington Emergency Management Division has devised a plan to address the tsunami threat looming over their maritime community. As the port grapples with the increasing reality of geological threats, officials are intent on mapping out a course of action to prevent the loss of both life and property.
The newly minted strategy is the third of its kind in the Evergreen State, emulating the protective paths already set down at the Port of Bellingham and the Westport Marina. Anacortes's harbor, which felt the caress of over 120 deep-water vessels just last year, stands to benefit from a comprehensive approach to tsunami hazards. “The threat of tsunamis to the maritime community of the Guemes Channel and the Port of Anacortes is significant,” Danté DiSabatino, tsunami program coordinator at Washington Emergency Management Division, told Washington Military Department's news outlet. He emphasizes the importance of proactive measures in the face of potential disaster.
The strategy not only provides a game plan for immediate action should a tsunami be imminent, including evacuations and maritime traffic restrictions, but it also casts a wider net, pondering over longer-term mitigation strategies and funding mechanisms. For instance, new signage funded by the Washington Emergency Management Division, along with infrastructure improvements like enhanced dock pilings possibly financed through a mix of local and federal funds, are on the table, according to the Washington Military Department announcement.
Recently unseen in this region, detailed modeling of the impact of a distant Alaska tsunami on the Port of Anacortes is a groundbreaking feature of the study. “Notably, modeling from this study suggests that even a large earthquake off the coast of Alaska can still generate warning-level waves that exceed three feet in height within Cap Sante Marina," said Alex Dolcimascolo, a tsunami geologist from the Washington Geological Survey, as reported by the Washington Military Department. The predictive modeling aims to give the community a head start by identifying water withdrawal as a precursor sign to a tsunami, helping to save lives and property ahead of time.
The initiative also places a high value on education, with plans to distribute revised protective guidance for boaters and raise awareness among tenants and visitors. The heightened focus on education parallels infrastructure advancements to boost resilience, not just for less frequent seismic waves but also against the growing menace posed by extreme weather and the creeping dangers of climate change. As John Dumas, Port of Anacortes Director of Operations, expressed, the strategy is a testament to partnership and expertise, ensuring that the community is better positioned to manage risks, respond to emergencies, and recover swiftly in the aftermath of a catastrophe.
