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Clayton Franke / The Daily World Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz talks on Feb. 23 at the state Route 115 beach approach in Ocean Shores. Franz called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue funding the state’s tsunami mitigation research.

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Federal budget could cut Washington’s tsunami research funding

State has produced slew of evacuation maps, models with money from national mitigation program

Rendering by Degenkolb and Rice Fergus Miller, Inc. The city of Westport received a $16 million federal grant to construct a vertical evacuation tower in its marina district. Supported with steel pillars and reinforced in a concrete foundation, the tower will stand about 40 feet high with a pair of platforms totaling 5,000 square feet, along with space for food, water and supplies.

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Westport secures $16.7M for tsunami evacuation structure

After seven-year effort, city poised to build third tsunami structure on South Beach

Public safety organizations, disaster relief groups and more took part in the county’s Emergency Preparedness Expo on July 22. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

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Staying alive: Harbor comes out for Emergency Preparedness Expo

Hundreds of guests and dozens of organizations turned up

The North Beach School District voted to examine the possibility of building a vertical evacuation structure on the grounds of Ocean Shores Elementary, where about 200 students are currently enrolled. (Courtesy of North Beach School District)

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North Beach District pushes for tsunami tower at elementary school

Still distinct from agreement with city, district’s tower could serve school and some public

Washington State Emergency Management Division An assessment from the University of Washington suggests the Ocean Shores peninsula needs 23 vertical evacuation structures to survive 95-99% of the population.

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Ocean Shores faces big decisions as tower talks continue

District exploring its own tower at elementary, city still searching for funds

The Copalis Ghost Forest remains from the last major earthquake and subsequent tsunami to hit the coast, back on January 26, 1700. (Kelly Calhoune / North Beach Museum)

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Plan the flight, fly the plan: tsunami specialists urge preparedness

A major tsunami could occur with mere minutes of notice

Quinault Indian Nation King tides in January 2022 breached the seawall in Taholah, forcing the evacuation of homes and public facilities.

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State money supports “crucial” parts of Quinault relocations

Proposed capital funding would kickstart Queets project, provide infrastructure in Taholah

Ocean Shores Elementary School teacher Haley Stoney holds the inundation map of Ocean Shores during a school board meeting on March 21. The construction of a tsunami tower for the low-lying school has proved contentious with the public. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)

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Ocean Shores, state work to move forward on tsunami tower

The tower remains fiercely contested in the public, with supporters and detractors speaking passionately

Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Ocean Shores Mayor Jon Martin speaks to the North Beach School District about a project to build a tsunami tower near Ocean Shores Elementary School on Jan. 17.

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School board votes against allowing state funding of Ocean Shores tsunami tower

The tower would have been located near the elementary school in the vulnerable city.

Clayton Franke | The Daily World Liz Newman (left), fifth grade teacher at Pacific Beach Elementary, watches over her students as they participate in the “shelter in place” portion of Thursday’s earthquake and tsunami preparedness drill.

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Hiking to high ground

Pacific Beach Elementary students practice tsunami preparedness in “Great Shakeout” drill

Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Students at Ocosta Junior-Senior High School walk to the adjacent vertical tsunami shelter on Oct. 20 as part of the Great ShakeOut, a statewide tsunami drill.

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Washed away, not today— Westport schools participate in tsunami drill

Drones and computer models and tsunami towers, oh my.

The county will take place in the Great Shake Out, a tsunami drill, on Thursday morning. (Courtesy photo / Grays Harbor Emergency Management Division)

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Grays Harbor readies for tsunami drill

The concern is real; a tsunami advisory was issued months ago.