*****Tsunami warning-Oregon coast*****

[Larry Caldwell]

Brookings Harbor has been almost destroyed. The commercial side of the harbor is gone. As soon as Kitzhaber declares it a disaster zone, DeFazio will expedite some disaster funds to start rebuilding. Estimates of the damage are around $30 million.

[hamellr]

Sad to see... Especially for an area already suffering.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

As soon as Kitzhaber declares it a disaster zone, DeFazio will expedite some disaster funds to start rebuilding.

I know that many locals consider the port to be the soul of the area, but a part of me is asking "why...why rebuild?"

1. The port is already 5.3 million dollars in debt, and almost went under in 2008 due to poor fiscal management. If it's hemorrhaging red ink, why not just let it go? It's been foundering financially for decades, now the infrastructure itself has foundered with Mother Nature's help. So we're going to spend $30 million in public revenue so that the port can go back to losing money again? Is that a sound public investment?

2. The part of the port that was damaged -- the boat basin -- brings in no profit with its skimpy moorage fees. It's the RV park that is profitable and that wasn't damaged. Maybe more analysis is needed in determining what port district activities pay for themselves and which ones are net losers subsidized by taxpayer monies.

3. Has any feasibility study been done showing that the boat basins can be rebuilt with infrastructure engineered to withstand the next tsunami? There is good evidence that the entire Pacific Plate is moving and the next major earthquake may very well be on the leading edge...off the Oregon coast.

[tablemtn]

Depoe Bay's small harbor also took some damage, after a boat was slammed into a dock (which subsequently broke).

New lesson for Oregon Coast: Don't turn your back on tsunami warnings, even hours later

"The city doesn't have any money. How are they going to fix this?" Shane wondered. "In two and a half months, it will be the height of fishing season. There will be 20-30 sports boats and no place to put them."

That might be a more affordable and manageable repair project for the time being.

[hamellr]

Is there even going to be a fishing season this year? I've not seen what is up with the Dead Zone yet.

[karlsch]

Nation's First Tsunami-Resistant Building Could Be Built on the Oregon Coast
Read all about it here: Taking Waves: Nation's First Tsunami-Resistant Building Could Be Built on the Oregon Coast: Scientific American

[raedean]

yes.my son is a commerical fisherman out of Garibaldi oregon.I woke up and saw the news at like 2:49 a.m. and i got to be on his intercomme to tell all his crew of the coming tsunamia.Well,i did convince him to get his boat put away and get out.Heehee.nothing happened.Brookings had alot of damage...to the tune of 13 million dollars worth of damage.All his fishermen buddies were heading out into the ocean anyway(the one s on other boats).I guess if u get like 5 miles out-u will be ok.i did not know this.well long story short.he told me thanks ma for saving our lifes.hee hee.pretty funny fellow.I wonder if the fishing would have been good that day or not??

[raedean]

oh...i guess Brookings had more damage talllied up than i was aware of.thanks for telling me this.

[akpls]

We were in Astoria and were awakened by the hotel staff at about 5:30AM and told that we should leave. We drove to Clatskanie, had breakfast, then went on back to Astoria when we were told it was pretty much a non-event there.