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Securing clean, reliable water for Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital — so care never stops, even in a crisis.
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital is a modern, seismically resilient hospital serving about 25,000 residents on the central Oregon Coast — a number that can double during tourist season. Yet structural strength alone isn’t enough. Surgery, wound care, sanitation, food preparation and infection control all depend on a reliable supply of clean water.
The Water Resiliency Project will secure an independent source so the hospital can keep caring for the community, no matter what.
The Oregon Coast sits along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 700-mile fault capable of producing a magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami. A statewide analysis by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries projects damages and injuries for Lincoln County:
These patients would far outnumber the number of hospital beds available locally — at the very same time an earthquake could sever the hospital’s water supply.
The hospital draws water from Lincoln City’s Schooner Creek treatment plant consisting of roughly 135 miles of underground pipe and six power-dependent pump stations, much of it built before modern seismic standards. The hospital has no adequate backup source today.
After a major quake, the 1973 Siletz River bridge on Highway 101 could be impassable for more than 24 months. Many other bridges and highways leading into Lincoln City from the north and east could also be damaged. This would isolate Lincoln City and force supplies to arrive by sea and air.
On-site water isn’t a convenience; it’s a lifeline.
The Water Resiliency Project will give Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital its own independent, four-week supply of potable water — a sustainable source that keeps critical care running even if the municipal system fails.
It’s the essential first step in a broader plan to strengthen the hospital against disaster, extending in time to emergency power, fuel, and medical-supply storage.
Safe water for surgery, wound care and sanitation when it’s needed most.
A replicable approach for rural hospitals facing the same risks.
Resilience built in advance — not improvised in the aftermath.
This isn’t a wish list — it’s work already well underway.
“When — not if — this happens, our hospitals and clinics must be prepared to operate independently for weeks. Without a reliable four-week supply of fuel and water, our ability to provide life-saving care will be crippled. Investing in preparedness today means saving lives tomorrow.”
– Lesley Ogden, MD, Samaritan Coast Hospitals CEO
The Water Resiliency Project brings together partners committed to the health and safety of Lincoln City:
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital
North Lincoln Health District
North Lincoln Hospital Foundation
City of Lincoln City
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The project mirrors water-resiliency work already underway at Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital in Newport, and is designed as a replicable model for rural hospitals nationwide that face the same risks.
Protecting this hospital protects everyone who depends on it — the residents it serves and the millions of visitors who pass through the region each year.
The Water Resiliency Project is a community effort. A dedicated fund has been established for individuals and organizations who want to help ensure the hospital is ready when it matters most.
