GUEST POST via Emergency Management BC
We’ll never turn down a chance to plug emergency preparedness. So when the folks at TranBC asked us to help promote The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, we wholeheartedly said, yes!
At Emergency Management BC, disaster readiness is a subject close to our heart – and one we know will eventually matter to everyone. But getting that message across isn’t easy, which means we spend a lot of time thinking about how to get your attention.
With the Great British Columbia ShakeOut in October, we’ve decided to put more of the onus on you. (Don’t worry! It’s going to be fun.) While practicing your Drop, Cover & Hold On technique, show us what you find. You might be surprised! All you have to do is answer one simple question: It’s ShakeOut Time: What’s under your desk?
Not at a desk? Share what’s in your trunk, under your kitchen table or workbench. Tweet your videos, pics or memes to @EmergencyPrepBC using the hashtag #ShakeOutBC.
Our goal is to get British Columbians thinking about their level of preparedness so when a major quake does happen, knowing what to do will be second nature. With an average of 1,200 quakes occurring in B.C. each year, it’s only a matter of time before that practice pays off.
So here’s the Coles Notes:
When you feel shaking, Drop to the ground (before the earthquake drops you); take Cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table; and Hold On until the shaking stops. Count to 60 before getting up, giving objects around you a chance to settle. Be ready for aftershocks.
If you are in a vehicle, move to the shoulder of the road, away from bridges, overpasses power lines and buildings made of masonry or glass as quickly and safely as possible. Stay in your vehicle and wait for the shaking to stop.
Also ensure you have an emergency plan – including how you’ll communicate and reunite with loved ones if separated – and a household emergency kit that can sustain your family for a minimum of 72 hours.
For more on the provincewide ShakeOut drill, and how to participate, visit the ShakeOutBC website. Looking for additional preparedness info? EmergencyInfoBC is a great one-stop-shop.
And here’s some more good news. Much of the earthquake prep you do applies to all emergencies, so you’ll not only be ready for quakes, but power outages, floods and wildfires as well.
Now get to work on sending us those videos and pictures… we’re waiting!
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