On Thursday, October 21 at 10:21 a.m., millions of people worldwide will practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” during Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills.
More than 3,000 earthquakes occur in British Columbia each year. Most are too small to be felt, but the risk of one big enough to cause significant damage is very real. Participating in ShakeOutBC is an effective way to better understand BC’s earthquake risk and how to prepare.
Residents, organizations, and businesses are all encouraged to take part. The more people know about what to do during an earthquake, the better prepared our province will be to respond and recover. Register today at www.ShakeOutBC.ca.
What to do:
Use the internationally recognized "Drop, Cover and Hold On" protocol to protect lives during earthquakes:
- DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),
- Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
- HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
If there isn’t a table or desk near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.
What NOT to do:
DO NOT get in a doorway! An early earthquake photo is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. Get under a table instead!
DO NOT run outside! Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. You are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.
Sign up for Alertable
Sign up for the City’s emergency notification system, Alertable. Alertable sends emergency alerts and day-to-day community notices via text, email, or phone for facilities, roads, parks, schools, various municipal services, pandemics, earthquakes, fires, floods, severe weather and other hazards.
Never miss an emergency alert or general community notice from the City of White Rock. Sign up at whiterockcity.ca/alertable
About ShakeOut BC
ShakeOut BC earthquake drills help people at home, school and work practise how to be safe during an earthquake and provide an opportunity for everyone to improve their overall preparedness. By participating, you, your family, your co-workers and millions of others will be better prepared to survive and recover quickly following an earthquake.
Visit www.ShakeOutBC.ca for more resources and tools.