(CNN)  -- Earthquake scientist James Roddey is known up and down the Oregon coast as the "prophet of doom" -- a nickname that seems even more ominous after the disaster in Japan. As an earth science officer for the state, Roddey educates communities on how to prepare and survive the earthquake and tsunami that he predicts is virtually inevitable. "They want to know more. They want to know what they can do," said Roddey, who spoke to CNN on Monday shortly before his scheduled appearance at an Oregon school near Gold Beach. He's the bearer of bad news. Very bad news: there's a one-in-three chance that a major quake will strike the region by 2061, according to Oregon State University scientists.
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U.S. ranks about a five out of 10 for earthquake preparedness, says expert
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Major quake/tsunami will hit Oregon coast by 2061, say geologists
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U.N. cheers Asian nations for tsunami warning improvements
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Some major U.S. high-rises not adequately retrofitted for Japan-strength quake
"A lot of people don't even realize that we get earthquakes in @placeholder," Roddey explained.