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Shakeout BC Earthquake Preparedness Day

Hello everyone!

It’s that time of year again and we are preparing for our annual Earthquake Preparedness Drill. On Thursday, October 20th, we will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” in The Great BC ShakeOut as SanMar Canada, Vancouver location, takes part in the largest earthquake drill in Canadian history!

 

For those on-site:

  • We will be holding the drill October 20th at 1:00pm. An announcement will take place at this time, where we will all “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”.

 

For those working remote:

  • Even though you are not on site to participate, you can be prepared at home! The attached information is provided so you know what to do in the event of an earthquake.

 

In an earthquake, you need to “Drop, Cover and Hold On”. Below are the steps to take:

  • DROP to the ground (before the earthquake topples you!).
  • Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and…
  • HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your neck and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.

 

The main point is to try not to move and immediately protect yourself as best as possible where you are. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl; you will most likely be knocked to the ground wherever you happen to be. The initial jolt may turn out to be the start of the big one, so prompt efforts on your part to protect yourself are crucial. You should Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately!

 

We need to be better prepared for major earthquakes and know how to protect ourselves when they happen. The purpose of BC ShakeOut is to help people and organizations do both. While potential earthquake hazards depend on your location, no place has zero hazards. On January 26, 1700, a magnitude 9 earthquake (similar to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake off the coast of Japan) shook the entire BC west coast as well as Washington, Oregon, and California, and it generated a massive four-story tsunami as far as Japan 9 hours later.

 

Feel free to reach out if there are any questions!

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