After the Big Earthquake: Is Your Home Ready?
In Tilt, a massive Cascadia earthquake reshapes the Pacific Northwest in an instant. Roads fracture. Power fails. Families are left to navigate a new reality. What would that look like here in Lake Oswego?
As part of the Lake Oswego Public Library 2026 LO Reads program, the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network (LOSN) shares what real preparedness looks like — before disaster strikes.
This home and school tour shows how local residents and our school district are planning for the moment when the grid goes down.
If you were unable to attend or would like another look, we have details from each home and school on the tour and links below to “visit” each location.
The Home Tour Includes:
- Rooftop solar paired with battery storage to keep lights and appliances on during outages. Explore the Uplands Home
- Electric vehicles (EVs) capable of supplying emergency backup power to an entire home or essential appliances. Explore the Lake Forest Home
- Water catchment systems and resilient garden food production systems. Explore the First Addition Home
- Fully electric homes powered by heat pumps and induction cooking — eliminating reliance on fossil fuels. Explore the Evergreen Home
- Practical strategies to maintain refrigeration, heating, cooking, and communications during extended outages
These aren’t futuristic concepts — they are systems already installed in Lake Oswego homes.
The School Visit Includes:
- How new schools are being built to Seismic Level 4, meaning they can be occupied immediately after a major earthquake
- How solar panels and battery storage support both daily operations and emergency needs
- How electric school buses contribute to cleaner air, battery storage and future resilienceIn an earthquake, schools may become community lifelines. See how ours are preparing.
Download River Grove Elementary Details
This tour connects climate action with disaster readiness — because sustainability is not just about reducing emissions. It’s about ensuring our community can function when systems fail.
Presented by:
Thank you to our Tour Sponsors: PGE, A&R Solar, West & Co. Realty
