PRINEVILLE, OR -- The state will dole out more than $153 million in grants to 100 schools and 47 emergency services buildings for seismic upgrades. Prineville’s Police Department was awarded $1.2 million to make improvements to the police station. It’s the only Central Oregon agency to receive funds.

Oregon’s Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program helps pay for construction to better prepare structures to withstand a major quake. The Cascadia Subduction Zone is overdue for a quake that, in the past, has exceeded a magnitude of nine. The state created the grant fund to help prevent buildings from pancaking; they'll be necessary for emergency services following the quake. This is part of a long term project to prepare schools and emergency services facilities for "the big one;" it started funding projects in 2009.