Winter in the Pacific Northwest feels cinematic: foggy mornings, snowcapped mountains in the distance and evergreen trees standing proudly in their place. It’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of the season; with the unique geography we have here, we forget that the same geography that makes this region so beautiful was shaped by powerful forces beneath our feet.
Along the coast of the Pacific Northwest lies the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a massive fault line that ranges from British Columbia to California.
While major megathrust earthquakes along Cascadia — such as “the Big One” — are rare, their impacts are widespread and disastrous, making awareness and preparation especially important for communities across the region. In these moments, preparedness becomes less about individual survival and more about collective preparedness.
So, how can college students and our communities prepare for the Big One?
According to Meredith Moran, reporter at the National Association of Counties, community planning plays a critical role. Knowing evacuation routes, understanding local natural hazards and participating in neighborhood response teams can make a meaningful difference in winter and disaster preparedness.
Alessandra Burgos, project manager of the Cascadia CoPes Research Hub, emphasized the importance of hands-on training.
“Students can get involved in their local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). This training teaches folks to be prepared for a disaster and supports them in learning how to help their community directly,” Burgos said.
Planning is another key way to support both campus and neighborhood resilience. A major earthquake during the colder months could mean prolonged failures of power, internet, heating water and campus alert systems. In that situation, students should expect limited access to digital communications.
One practical step is designating an out of state emergency contact. While local communication systems may fail, text messages may travel outside of the affected region more easily. Sharing an out of state contact with friends and family can help relay information and confirm loved ones’ safety.
Another often-overlooked preparedness tool is an amateur, or HAM, radio. Unlike cell phones and internet-based communication, HAM radios can operate without existing infrastructure, making them one of the most reliable ways to share information after a major disaster. Picking up this hobby and learning how to use a radio — or knowing where community members with that skill are located — can help neighborhoods and campuses stay connected when other systems fail.
A second practical, and equally important, step is simply talking to the. people around you about preparedness.
“It’s important to understand the risks,” Andrew Acevedo, a Cascadia CoPes Hub research fellow, said. “There are unique hazards in the Pacific Northwest due to our geography, so we must have a sense of community responsibility. Talk to your roommates and your loved ones and make a plan.”
“Don’t overwhelm yourself with all the ‘what-if ’ scenarios; create a general idea of what you’d do to prepare,” Acevedo said. “It doesn’t have to be this terrifying event but rather an opportunity to plan, educate and create a sense of shared responsibility.”
Lastly, creating a small emergency go-bag can help bridge the gap between a disaster and the arrival of aid. This does not need to be a large or expensive kit, however, having a compact bag with some essentials can make a significant difference in the event of “the Big One.”
Preparing together does not diminish the beauty of this place — it ensures that when the ground eventually shakes, our communities are ready to support one another through the aftermath.
