(upbeat music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS9 newsroom.

A vast body of geological evidence shows that at some point, perhaps in the next century or the next year, the Northwest will experience an earthquake that could surpass magnitude 9.0.

It would send waves 60 feet high or more, speeding to shore at 600 miles an hour.

For Washington's ocean front communities, politics have stalled tsunami prep efforts.

In February, for example, the North Beach School District, which serves Ocean Shores and other areas, tried to pass a $110 million Safety for Students bond measure.

The measure would replace one seismically defunct elementary with a new school on high ground, and build evacuation towers at the district's other elementary and middle high school.

Ocean Shores may be the coast's most vulnerable community, with more than 97% of residents and workers in the hazard zone.

However, the measure only got 40% of the vote.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

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