If you’ve experienced a recent earthquake, it’s important to tune into a local radio station, or check your online social media as soon as possible to find out your safest course of action from local authorities. Knowing whether to evacuate or take shelter is key.
If you’ve been given the order to evacuate, your safest plan is to evacuate immediately.
Thanks to the City of Vancouver’s Public Safety Page, here are the top 15 steps to take:
- Stay calm and gather your family.
- Offer help to neighbours and other people you see.
- Add clothing layers and shoes that are appropriate for the situation (and remove anything that’s not).
- Load up your emergency kit and emergency plan, making sure you have your medications and proper prescriptions.
- Remember your pets! Bring them in a kennel if possible, to keep them calm, or put them on a leash.
- When you leave your house, remember to switch off appliances, heaters, lights, water supply and gas supply.
- Tell someone in another city when you leave and where you’re going. You can even leave a note on your front door or in your mailbox. If there’s an emergency reception centre set up, register where you’ll be staying, so loved ones can find out where you are.
- Lock your doors and windows.
- Check in regularly with emergency radio, TV broadcasts and social media to keep up with what’s going on, and the next steps to take. Wait to return home until you’re notified by authorities.
- Save your cell phone batteries by only using your phone when absolutely necessary.
The more connected you are after an earthquake, the better off you’ll be. If you’re in contact with emergency workers, it’s best to follow their directions and stay away from blocked off routes or areas.
Hopefully, you’ll be so prepared for the earthquake that you’ll even be able to help others!
-Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io