Shake Up Call

Between the earth’s natural climatic cycles and seismic activity – and a recent upsurge in storms, wildfires and floods attributed to global warming – British Columbians need to be prepared, more than ever, for whatever nature dishes out. Take earthquakes: nearly 3,000 shake the province each year. While most are too small or remote for the average person to detect, seismologists believe a damaging quake in a populated area is only a matter of time. Yet a 2017 study by Emergency Management BC suggests we may not be as prepared as we could be. “Just over half of us have some sort of response plan, but only 13 per cent describe it as complete,” says Shawn Pettipas, BCAA Director of Community Engagement.

Most British Columbians know earthquake risk in BC is relatively high. Vancouver Island-based seismologist Alison Bird has been studying the phenomena for more than 20 years and doesn’t mince words when talking about the chances of a major seismic event in the province.

“BC is the most at-risk province in Canada, and major earthquakes will definitely strike – we simply don’t know when,” she says.

We have a pretty good idea of where, however. The Lower Mainland and coastal regions of BC are the most vulnerable to high-magnitude earthquakes because they lie closest to major faults. The 1,000-km-long Cascadia Subduction Zone, for instance, where one tectonic plate is pushing under another, runs from Vancouver Island to northern California. “[Cascadia] is expected to rupture in a megathrust earthquake as large as about magnitude 9, which includes threat of tsunami,” says Bird. Between this and the many other fault lines crisscrossing the province, the chances of a “significant” (magnitude 6 or greater) earthquake hitting part of BC in the next 50 years are as high as one in three.

When a major earthquake hits, there could be multiple impacts: compromised roads, infrastructure and services (electricity, water, sewer, gas, Internet), as well as damage to buildings. Communities exposed to the open Pacific Ocean, such as Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet, are additionally susceptible to tsunamis, while low-lying areas in Richmond, Tsawwassen and Victoria may be at risk of flooding and strong currents.

When the shaking starts

DROP onto your hands and knees to protect yourself from falling.

COVER your head and neck under a sturdy table or desk, or with your arms and hands.

HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops.

After the shaking stops, stay calm and move carefully, watching for dangerous, unstable objects and hazards. Check for injuries and help yourself first, then assist others. Exit immediately if you smell gas, see signs of fire or otherwise suspect the building to be unsafe. Text rather than call loved ones to avoid clogging phone lines, and only dial 9-1-1 for life-threatening situations. Also keep in mind there may be aftershocks. If the shaking starts again: drop, cover and hold on.

Learn more about disaster preparedness at bcaa.com/earthquake

Earthquake insurance 101

The financial burden of replacing personal belongings and repairing damages – or rebuilding completely – after an earthquake could set you back dramatically.

That’s why you should consider earthquake insurance. It protects against many types of direct damage caused by shaking, as well as damages occurring in the aftermath, such as from burst pipes (although damage from tsunamis isn’t covered). It also covers additional living expenses; for example, if you need to leave your home due to damage or during repairs.

What about condos? Strata councils often have earthquake insurance, but they may pass the (pricey) deductibles along to individual condo owners. Strata policies also typically don’t cover the cost of replacing lost possessions, or the living expenses of condo owners who need to relocate while repairs occur. So owners need their own earthquake policies to cover these costs.

The cost of earthquake insurance depends on where you live, your type of property and the total value of the possessions you’re insuring. Contact a BCAA Insurance provider to learn more.