Washington State Holds Two-Day "Level Up" Disaster Exercise: Simulating a Magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Earthquake and Tsunami
A two-day, statewide disaster exercise led by the Washington State Department of Health was held at multiple locations across the state on October 19 and 20. Code-named "Level Up," the exercise simulated a magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake triggering a tsunami, in a scenario with roads cut off, communications down, and widespread damage to coastal communities and the Interstate 5 corridor.
State, tribal, local and federal agencies took part, testing their ability to coordinate public health and medical operations under disaster conditions. At the medical logistics center in Lacey — a warehouse of nearly 200,000 square feet storing emergency supplies such as personal protective equipment and spare hospital beds — responders practiced actually getting supplies to local jurisdictions when roads are damaged and communications are out.
Nate Weide, the Department of Health's resilience and health security lead, said the core question of the exercise is "when the big one hits, can we get help where it needs to go." The department also deployed two mobile command vehicles that can provide satellite internet connectivity to areas that have lost power or communications. The exercise is a practical application of Cascadia earthquake hazard modeling and part of the Pacific Northwest's long-running emergency preparedness work for geologic disasters.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：华盛顿州应急行动场景。图片来源：华盛顿州军事部官方网站 mil.wa.gov / Photo: A Washington State emergency operations scene. Source: Washington Military Department official site, mil.wa.gov
