The City of Nanaimo will be participating in a province-wide earthquake drill next week. The Great BC ShakeOut will be broadcast on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. via 102.3 the Wave and 106.9 the Wolf and involves dropping to the ground, taking cover under a sturdy desk or table and holding on.
“This is the first time we’ve had to ‘shakeout’ during a pandemic. Whether you plan to hold a video conference call to discuss emergency plans, or run through the ‘drop, cover and hold on’ exercise, there are safe ways to participate. COVID-19 is certainly front and centre, but other emergencies can happen at any time and it’s worth being prepared,” said Karen Lindsay, emergency program manager for the city.
The City of Nanaimo encourages residents and businesses to review their earthquake plans, refresh emergency kits and hold a virtual meeting to discuss emergency plans.
“If the ground starts shaking beneath our feet it will be hard to stay calm. Drop, cover and hold on — it’s a simple technique and by practising it, we can all be a little more confident and safe should that earth shaking moment ever come,” said Mayor Leonard Krog.
The Great BC ShakeOut is B.C.’s take on International ShakeOut Day, which takes place on the third Thursday of October. Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate on a different day, if necessary.
The Juan de Fuca tectonic plate is moving towards North America at about 2-5 cm per year, which causes plate pressure. A massive offshore earthquake is expected in the future, according to the Government of Canada’s natural resources page.
