Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves Case Study: Portland International Airport Resilient Runway  

Date: 
04-19-2021
Time: 
1 pm to 2 pm
Location: 

Online

Oregon could experience a magnitude-8.7 or larger earthquake in the next 50 years.

This webinar will present key findings in a case study by the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council (MMC) of the National Institute of Building Sciences that estimates the benefits of a seismically resilient runway at Portland International Airport (PDX).

Using NIBS’ groundbreaking Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves research, MMC found that an upgraded resilient runway at PDX could:

  • Save up to $50 for every $1 invested on mitigation
  • Protect lives, speed the re-occupancy of homes and businesses, and reduce business interruption
  • Be better able to resist large earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone
  • Greatly improve the region’s response and recovery efforts

MMC published four editions of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves study between 2005 to 2019. It found that mitigation saves up to $13 per $1 invested (national average) across multiple kinds of disasters and a wide variety of approaches. These include adopting up-to-date building codes, exceeding codes, and retrofitting existing private- and public-sector buildings, utilities, and transportation infrastructure. The PDX case study extends Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves by shedding light on the fragility and the value of resilient air transportation.