EWEB Programming at the Y

About

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is capable of a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and strong shaking from smaller earthquakes. The magnitude of this earthquake and the accompanying tsunami pose significant challenges to the entire Pacific Northwest. Community lifelines will be impacted. Utilities such as electricity, drinking water, and sewer services may be significantly impacted. 

Understanding what to expect during an earthquake is critical for response, recovery, and whole community preparedness. That’s why the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), in association with the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT), has partnered to break down the complexities of understanding and preparing for a seismic emergency. 

What to Expect from the Session

Representatives from the UO’s Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center and Earth Science Department will present: 

• History of earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone 
• Why recurrence is likely 
• What an earthquake will feel like in the Eugene Metro area 
• What impacts are likely to affect the Eugene Metro area 

EWEB Emergency Management Specialist Jenny Demaris will introduce the concept of being two weeks ready for a disaster using EWEB’s Pledge to Prepare program.

REGISTER

Registration opens Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 12 a.m.

About the Facilitators

• Monday, Sept. 21 – 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Braden Hensley 
  • Braden Hensley is a PhD candidate studying seismology at the University of Oregon. He focuses on understanding the physics of large earthquakes and how they create the intense shaking felt at the Earth's surface. 
• Wednesday, Sept. 30 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Haiyang Kehoe 
  • Haiyang is an assistant professor at the University of Oregon. He studies how earthquakes begin and why they eventually stop. He builds models of Earth's interior to assess earthquake hazard. 
• Wednesday, Oct. 14 – 1 to 2:30 p.m. AND Monday, Oct. 26 – 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Valerie Sahakian 
  • Valerie is an Associate Professor of Geophysics at the University of Oregon’s Earth Science Department, and a lead scientist in the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center. She studies big earthquakes (past, present, and future), their physics, and predicts how strong shaking will be from them. In her time outside work, she can be found running, swimming, gardening, working on projects, or spending time with animals, family, and friends – or maybe at the Y! 
• Wednesday, Oct. 21 – 10 to11:30 a.m. – Charity Mann 
  • Charity is currently a PhD Candidate at UO studying seismic ground motion in the Willamette Valley after completing a Bachelor's in Geology at OSU. She is a lifelong Oregonian with a personal interest in supporting local communities in emergency preparation and hazard mitigation efforts. 

Jenny Demaris currently serves as an Emergency Management Specialist at Eugene Water & Electric Board, focused on public preparedness and education.  

About

The future of energy will not look like the past. Historically, the relationship between an energy provider (EWEB) and an energy consumer (you) was simple and moved in one direction: You flip the switch, the power flows and the lights come on.  

But demand for electricity is growing as more people switch to electric heating and cooling and opt for electric vehicles. While electrification is good for the community, it requires a new dynamic between energy providers and customers.  

In the future, the relationship will be more interactive, a relationship of partnership. When energy demand is highest, so are the costs, carbon intensity and risk of energy shortages. Meeting those challenges will require new approaches. EWEB and customers will need to work together at those times to balance energy usage, especially during peak times, in ways that benefit everyone.  

During this session, EWEB will discuss: 

• The changing energy landscape in Eugene and the Northwest 
• EWEB’s ongoing energy supply and demand forecasting efforts 
• The need for partnership between EWEB and customers to synchronize energy demand and supply 

Together, we’ll explore how Eugene’s — and the Northwest’s — energy system is changing, why those changes are happening and how we can work together to shape a clean, reliable and affordable energy system of tomorrow.  

REGISTER

Registration opens Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 12 a.m.

Intro to EWEB's Pledge to Prepare Program

Presented in partnership with Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB)

Click on the image above to learn more about EWEB's Pledge to Prepare campaign.

About

The earthquake lasted less than a minute. But now the power’s out, cell service is spotty, and the tap has run dry. Would you be ready?

We all want to be prepared for an emergency, but it can be hard to know where to start. Sign up for this session to learn more about the Eugene Water & Electric Board’s Pledge to Prepare program and start your journey toward achieving personal preparedness in 2026.

EWEB’s Pledge to Prepare program breaks down the preparedness process into manageable steps. Each month, you’ll tackle one small checklist, so getting prepared never feels overwhelming or expensive.

Unable to join the in-person sessions? A recorded version of EWEB's Intro to Pledge to Prepare program is available on YouTube and EWEB's website.