Tsunami Awareness & Coastal Hospitality, Oct. 20

The Oregon Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is officially rolling out “Tsunami Safe: Hospitality Begins with Safety,” a free program that focuses on tsunami awareness in the hospitality industry along the Oregon Coast. The program officially began Monday, Oct. 19. Tsunami Safe is designed to increase tsunami awareness by educating all levels of employees in the hospitality industry, informing overnight visitors to the Oregon Coast of the risk, and increasing disaster preparedness throughout the hospitality industry along the coast, said OEM Geologic Hazards Awareness Coordinator Karen Parmelee. “Facilities that participate in the program will be at the forefront of providing safety for guests,” Parmelee said. Ann Chapatte, who is the manager of the Overlook Motel in Lincoln City, said personal experiences have helped her see the value of the Tsunami Safe project. Chapatte was managing her hotel when the distant tsunami from Japan hit the Oregon Coast in 2011 after the Tohuku earthquake and tsunami. She was also personally affected by a major earthquake. “We are right on the beach, I watched visitors sit on the beach to wait for and watch the tsunami,” explained Chapatte. “I personally lost everything in an earthquake, I take natural disasters seriously!” The first round of introductory trainings for hospitality industry management will be offered on the following dates and locations: * Astoria: Monday, November 2nd, 2pm to 3pm, Clatsop Community College, Towler Hall Room 310, 1651 Lexington Ave, Astoria; * Lincoln City: Tuesday, November 3rd, 1:30 to 2:30pm, Lincoln City Council Chambers, 801 SW Hwy 101, Lincoln City; * Florence: Wednesday, November 4th, 1pm to 2pm, Siuslaw Valley Fire & Rescue, 2625 Hwy 101, Florence; * Coos Bay/North Bend: Thursday, November 5th, 9:30am to 10:30am, North Bend Library, 1800 Sherman Ave, North Bend; * Brookings: Friday, November 6th, 9:30am to 10:30am, Southwest Oregon Community College – Curry Campus, Krieger Community Room, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings. Hospitality industry businesses that are interested in participating can sign up for the program at www.tsunamisafe.info. About Oregon Office of Emergency Management: The purpose of the Office of Emergency Management is to execute the Governor’s responsibilities to maintain an emergency services system as prescribed in ORS 401 by planning, preparing and providing for the prevention, mitigation and management of emergencies or disasters that present a threat to the lives and property of citizens of and visitors to the State of Oregon.