Oregon Braces for 'Big One': Key Infrastructure at Risk

Experts are stressing the critical need for policies promoting community microgrids and battery storage to aid post-quake recovery in Oregon's coastal regions, which heavily depend on the Bonneville Power Administration's grid. The anticipated Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake poses a severe threat, with many state-owned buildings expected to be unusable, while only a few might withstand the impact.

Urgent attention is also required for critical infrastructure like U.S. Route 101, which faces landslides and flooding even without an earthquake and could lead to the permanent loss of coastal communities if disabled. The Bonneville Power Administration is retrofitting its grid but faces resource limitations and a late start on seismic code implementation.

Authorities are working on improvements, such as retrofits at Portland International Airport and the state Capitol. Governor Kotek's 2025 executive order mandates retrofitting large state buildings over the next 35 years. However, significant investment is needed, including nearly $500 million for the Port of Portland to upgrade a runway for emergency aircraft.