The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is reporting that nearly a million British Columbians signed up for the Great BC ShakeOut event.
The Great BC ShakeOut event is co-presented by the IBC and the BC Earthquake Alliance. It was held on October 17, at 10:17am. More than 970,000 British Columbians were confirmed as participants – by comparison, nearly 910,000 BC residents participated last year.
“If you live in an active earthquake zone, knowing what to do when the shaking starts could save your life,” said BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth in a statement. “ShakeOut is an important annual reminder to drop, cover and hold on, and I encourage all British Columbians to take the time to participate.”
IBC stated most of coastal BC is at high risk of an earthquake, adding that there is a one-in-three chance that a considerable earthquake will strike southwestern BC in the next 50 years.
“Earthquakes don’t make appointments. We have to be ready when they arrive,” cautioned BC Earthquake Alliance president Naomi Yamamoto, who added that practising “drop, cover, and hold on” builds muscle memory and is a great way to prepare for an actual emergency.
“Everyone should be prepared to take immediate action once the shaking starts. By working together, we can make British Columbians safer and better prepared to cope when disaster strikes,” said IBC Pacific vice-president Aaron Sutherland.
