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Orcutt promotes
tsunami-resistant
structures for Washington's coasts
Rep. Ed Orcutt,
R-Kalama, is proposing legislation that would provide incentives for
Washington’s coastal communities to build tsunami-resistant structures
for use in emergencies.
The primary purpose of the structures would be for emergency services
during times of disasters, but could also be used as training sites for
emergency responders.
“The bottom line is preparing now so we can help save lives in the
future,” said Orcutt. “The recent tragedy in south Asia is an
unfortunate reminder that we live in an area very susceptible to the
devastation of tsunamis and earthquakes."
In March 1964, a magnitude 8.4 earthquake in Alaska generated a tsunami
that caused damage to southeastern Alaska, British Columbia, California,
Hawaii, Vancouver Island and Washington.
“It’s not a matter of ‘if’ a tsunami will hit our coast – it’s a matter
of ‘when,’” warned Orcutt. “Now is the time to prepare. If we don’t, it
could mean the loss of precious lives.”
The proposed legislation provides incentives to entities involved in
building tsunami-resistant structures in coastal counties, including
business and occupation (B&O) tax exemptions for income received from
the engineering, planning, design, or construction of tsunami-resistant
structures, and exemptions from sales and use tax for construction.
Any tsunami-resistant structure built in a designated geologically
hazardous area would be subject to the guidelines of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Tsunami Hazard
Mitigation Program.
“While Washington has the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in place to
alert coastal communities of an impending tsunami, there must be other
safeguards added,” said Orcutt. “If we have problems with evacuation
routes or communications, there must be a local shelter people can turn
to for safety. Tsunami-resistant structures would provide safety to
people who aren’t able to evacuate in time – which is especially
important since warnings may only give people 15 minutes or so to
react.”
The tsunami in south Asia is similar to what happened along the
Washington coast 305 years ago. A massive earthquake believed to have
taken place in January 1700 caused Washington’s coast to drop a few feet
and sent a wave of water reaching all the way to Japan.
The 2005 legislative session begins January 10 and is scheduled to run
for 105 days.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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