Know Wonder: Disaster Preparedness in Volcano and Earthquake Country

Ever wonder what you would do in the case of a natural disaster?

You can attend this program online or in person. To take part online, register by using the “Register Here for Online Access” link above. Masks are recommendedd at all in-person library events.

Oregon and the Pacific Northwest are famous for diverse landscapes — from rugged coastlines, lush forests, snow covered mountains, and arid high deserts. But these landscapes have been shaped by violent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Could geologic events like this occur again in the future? And what can we do to prepare for natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?

In this presentation, geologist Daniele McKay will explore why these events occur in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. We will look at examples of what future earthquakes and volcanic activity might look like here in central Oregon, and how we can prepare for these events.

Dr. Daniele McKay is an adjunct instructor in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oregon. She lives in Bend, Oregon and teaches online geology courses throughout the academic year, and field courses in central Oregon during the summer. Her research background is in physical volcanology with a focus on recent mafic eruptions in the central Oregon Cascades. She is also interested in how societies prepare for and respond to natural disasters, especially volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. She has worked with Deschutes County, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience, and the Red Cross on natural hazard preparedness and mitigation in central Oregon.