This week, over 700,000 British Columbians participated in earthquake preparedness activities, joining millions worldwide for events like the Great British Columbia ShakeOut (ShakeOut BC).
Organized by the BC Earthquake Alliance (BCEA) and hosted by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), Thursday’s successful drill highlighted the importance of practicing the “Drop, Cover and Hold On” technique, considered the best way to reduce injuries during an earthquake.
Participants included the general public, the ShakeOut BC planning committee, BCEA, VFPA, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), and members of the media.
The event also featured a public emergency preparedness fair, with booths from organizations like Natural Resources Canada, Fortis BC, and PreparedBC, alongside live demonstrations of the Quake Cottage simulator.
Since 2011, BCEA has coordinated the ShakeOut BC drill, encouraging individuals to review emergency plans, secure their environments, and prepare for earthquakes, as southwestern British Columbia faces a 30% chance of experiencing a significant earthquake within the next 50 years.
Mayor Ken Sim of Vancouver voiced strong support for the event, stating: “The Great BC ShakeOut isn’t just about practice – it’s about coming together as a community and making sure every Vancouverite knows how to tackle whatever challenges come our way.”
For BCEA chair Naomi Yamamoto, it was a delight to witness the turnout, knowing that the practice could one day save lives.
“We’re thrilled to see so many people in BC committed to preparedness, with hundreds of thousands participating in our latest BC ShakeOut,” Yamamoto noted. “We were excited to add the Quake Cottage simulator to this year’s event, and are grateful to our sponsors and partner organizations.”
IBC’s Greg Moy echoed the importance of preparedness, reminding the public that the risk of a damaging earthquake is very real for British Columbia. “The time to prepare is now,” he said.
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