News from the Oregon Hazards Lab

Whether she’s scaling 150-foot towers or testifying before legislators, Sydney Whiting is helping to revolutionize wildfire and earthquake detection in Oregon. As a field technician for the Oregon Hazards Lab, the College of Arts and Sciences alum installs and maintains the seismic sensors, network infrastructure and cameras that provide real-time hazard monitoring throughout Oregon.

The urgency of climate change can’t be overstated. Hear from Tykeson Dean of Arts and Sciences Dean Chris Poulsen—who’s also a climatologist whose work is focused on understanding the planet’s climate variability from the deep geologic past to the future—about how the College of Arts and Sciences is responding to climate change.

An alert from the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System can buy you life-saving seconds to protect yourself before dangerous shaking arrives. But in Oregon, where most earthquakes are minor enough to go unnoticed, how well-prepared are people to make the most of these precious seconds? University of Oregon research will improve families’ effectiveness at responding to earthquake early-warning alerts.

The March 2025 Oregon Hazards Lab newsletter is here! We share the impacts of wildfire cameras on the Los Angeles Fires, recap ShakeAlert performance during the December offshore Cape Mendocino earthquake, and share our plans for the 2025 field season. We also share more information about HB 3219, proposed state legislation that would make OHAZ a state program, and how you can advocate for our work with your state representative!

The Oregon State Legislature is considering a bill that would establish OHAZ as a state program. If passed, House Bill 3219 would provide stable, long-term funding so OHAZ can continue its vital work protecting communities from natural disasters. By supporting this bill, state legislators can help strengthen Oregon’s resilience against earthquakes and wildfires. Urge your state representatives to vote in favor of House Bill 3219.

Sometimes wildfires spark far from the nearest wildfire camera, making it hard for firefighters to monitor the blaze. To help solve this challenge, the Oregon Hazards Lab is designing a new mobile camera kit that can be rapidly deployed in response to new ignitions. This project was made possible by a donation from the Roundhouse Foundation.