Benefits: Provides evacuation shelter for population to escape tsunamis.
Westport, Washington: $13.74 Million
History
Located on a low-lying peninsula and along a fault in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the City of Westport, Wash. is an economically disadvantaged community with a population of about 1,500 people. The lack of high ground poses a great tsunami risk following earthquakes.
Project Description
This project will develop a tsunami vertical evacuation structure to mitigate the extreme life safety risk to residents and visitors who would have just 23 minutes to reach natural high ground between a major earthquake and the first tsunami wave. The Westport Vertical Evacuation Structure will also include a standby power battery backup system for 48 hours of emergency power, and is designed for year-round community use.