British Columbia is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, so being prepared to be on your own (self-sustainable) for at least 72 hours is key. You can do this by putting together a household plan, regularly updating it, and putting together an emergency survival kit. It’s also wise to connect with your neighbours ahead of time, so that when the time comes, you can all expect a better response from each other and a faster recovery. After all, the most immediate help you’ll receive after an earthquake is probably going to come from those in closest proximity to you—your neighbours.
Although it’s just a myth that summer is “earthquake season,” there’s still no better time to be prepared than right now. In British Columbia, a number of organizations put on free workshops to encourage communities to get prepared.
Even if you regularly practice drills with your family at home, it’s not a bad idea to get out into the greater community and take the opportunity to share your knowledge and draw on the experiences of others, too!
Below are some workshops that have taken place recently throughout the province, and some upcoming, available workshops as well:
- Sign up for a free emergency and earthquake preparedness workshop in Vancouver, here!
- Check back here for ongoing, free emergency preparedness workshops in Greater Victoria, throughout the year.
- This past spring, the BC Museums Association put on regional workshops focusing on emergency preparedness for fires, floods and earthquakes in Nanaimo, Penticton and Prince George. Here’s hoping that they’ll do something similar next year!
It would be amazing to see more workshops happening in communities throughout British Columbia, but in order to make it happen, people like you are the ones who are going to make it happen! So if you’d like to see a workshop happening in your community, speak up! Write to us, write to your local government, or garner some interest among your colleagues, neighbours, peers and friends and create an event yourself! You’d be surprised at what we can accomplish together.
-Content created by Sophie Wooding – Writer, gardener, cyclist and emergency preparedness enthusiast!