CORVALLIS, Ore. (KMTR) - The author of a book focusing on active faults believes Oregon is not prepared for what could end up being "the big one."
Doctor Bob Yeats wrote the book "Active Faults of the World," published in 2012. He is an emeritus professor at OSU.
Some people believe Doctor Yeats predicted the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010. A week before it happened, he called Port Au Prince a "ticking time bomb." Yet, Doctor Yeats said he simply knew that the fault across Haiti was ready and due to the social development there, he knew how bad it could be, killing thousands.
""I can tell you where they're going to happen, but I can't tell you when," he said. "And that's what everyone wants to know."
The OSU professor said Japan was prepared for an earthquake, just not of the magnitude of the one that hit in 2011. He said their tsunami walls were built and designed to protect against an 8.0 magnitude earthquake rather than a 9.0 magnitude earthquake.
Living part-time on the coast, Doctor Yeats said Oregon isn't anywhere near being ready. He said there aren't any tsunami walls up that could withstand something as strong as we're likely to experience and the houses across the coast aren't built or insured for something like that, either.
"I think tsunami wise, we're not really prepared," Doctor Yeats said. "We're not as prepared as Japan was."
Doctor Yeats said people in Oregon should take the event seriously and be prepared. He believes Oregon is due for another major earthquake in the next 100 years or so, since the last one recorded was in the 1400s.
The book, "Active Faults of the World," also focuses on the impact major earthquakes have on social and economic development. It's been called the first of its kind.
