Jason Biermann, Director of the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Planning addresses our Club on Friday, February 22, 2019. Jason's background includes working in disaster risk reduction, public health response planner, wildland and urban firefighter and his service in the military included serving as a Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. Jason serves as a member of the Governor's Emergency Management Council and the Emergency Management Advisory Group. Jason holds a M.A. in Securities Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and is an IAEM Certified Emergency Manager.
Jason and his staff deliver comprehensive emergency management services that support the 800,000 residents of Snohomish County, by working with multiple cities and towns, two Tribal Nations and unincorporated Snohomish County. These services include educating diverse populations on the County's many hazards, which includes volcanoes, earthquakes, flooding, landslides and severe weather.
Snohomish is a microcosm of the state. Fast growing with a population of 800,000 and another potential 200,000-250,000 in the next decade. He spoke of the 800 mile Cascadia fault-line, and the last great rupture in January 26, 1700. We are closing in on the 500 year average recurrence in the next 50 years.
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake would be felt region-wide with shaking intensities greatest along the coast and where local conditions amplify seismic waves. The impact would be felt by 9 million residents with 15,000 potential deaths. Tens of thousands injured with 800,000 requiring shelter and 2,500,000 requiring mass feeding. Ports could be closed for weeks. Deep water vessels likely will take 10 days to 2 weeks to get to us.
Access to most severely impacted areas which will be limited to air and sea. There are 19 hospitals in the coastal AO and 104 in the I-5 corridor. Damage to highways would be hugely impacted. Three different sources and 8 types of earthquakes. Volcano is another potential hazard and his agency is trying to get more sensors for Glacier Peak which erupts much more than any other peak in the region.
There are other potential hazards and preparations for these disasters are always forefront with his agency. Establishing business continuity and continuity of operations means being prepared for all types of disasters. For more information, you can visit the DEM website. Map your neighborhoods and visit Ready.gov for more information. Jason can be reached at his office, 425-388-5060 or dem@snoco.org.