SANDPOINT — The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce would like to invite area residents and businesses to the May general membership luncheon to be held on Thursday, May 12.

The luncheon, which will be held from 12-1 p.m. in the Community Room of the Columbia Bank building, 414 Church St.

Those interested in learning more about the Cascadia Rising 2016 functional exercise, which will be held the week of June 6, 2016, are invited to attend the luncheon. Agencies and organizations in the state of Idaho are preparing to participate in this exercise. The activities planned in Bonner County aimed at testing the county’s preparedness.

The Cascadia subduction zone is a convergent plate boundary (fault) that stretches from Vancouver Island to northern California. Major cities affected by a disturbance in this subduction zone would include Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore. Great subduction zone earthquakes are the most powerful earthquakes known to occur, and can exceed magnitude 9.0. They occur when enough energy (stress) has accumulated in the “locked” zone of the fault to cause a rupture known as a megathrust earthquake.

The last known great earthquake in the Pacific Northwest was the 1700 Cascadia earthquake. Seafloor core evidence indicates that there have been 41 subduction zone earthquakes on the Cascadia subduction zone in the past 10,000 years, suggesting a general average earthquake recurrence interval of only 243 years. The next rupture of the Cascadia Subduction Zone is anticipated to be capable of causing widespread destruction throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2009, some geologists predicted a 10 percent to 14 percent probability that the Cascadia Subduction Zone will produce an event of magnitude 9.0 or higher in the next 50 years. A 2010 study suggested that the risk could be as high as 37 percent for earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 or higher. Scientists believe it is no longer if but when this event will occur, officials said.

Disaster preparedness organizations in three states and Canada, representing 50 counties will be conducting exercises based upon this potentially catastrophic event June 8 through 10. Included in those 50 counties are the five northern counties of Idaho.

Dean Keck, director of training and exercises for Panhandle District 1 Health Care Coalition will present the potential situation, its effect on the Pacific Northwest and what resident, in the Panhandle could expect. Bob Howard, Bonner County Office of Emergency Management will discuss the exercises planned for first responders, hospitals and emergency services.

The cost of the luncheon is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non-chamber members. Please register for the luncheon online at www.sandpointchamber.com.

Information: 208-263- 2161 or visit: www.sandpointchamber.org