Geotechnical engineer Yumei Wang, who works for Oregon state, warns that it's only a matter of time before a tsunami hits the Pacific Northwest. Yikes. I mean, YIKES!!! Fortunately for the vulnerable populace, Wang has a plan.
She proposes that low-lying communities collaborate to construct what she calls "tsunami evacuation buildings." I think "post-wave outposts" sounds better, but that's just me. Such a building would be made from reinforced concrete and have an 18-foot first floor, wide columns connected to a deep pile foundation, a wide external stairwell, and seawalls along the exterior to dissipate waves. An open plan would allow the building to have other daily uses.
As an engineer with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries in Portland, Wang is meeting with officials in Cannon Beach about potentially constructing the nation's first tsunami evacuation building (PDF) by retrofitting the town hall. While the estimated cost is between $1 million and $2 million, doing nothing would be worse since around 100,000 people live in the state's risk areas. Maybe they could even use green concrete. A retrofit definitely beats my idea: water wings as fashionable accessories.
Photo: Walk this way: Shirahama tsunami evacuation structure in Japan. Credit: Nobuo Shuto.
Tags: Architecture, Buildings and Structures, Design, Engineering, Green Tech,
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