The Great ShakeOut Results

You may have heard that individuals, schools and businesses in provinces all across Canada participated in the big ShakeOut event earlier this month. As the largest earthquake drill in the world, British Columbia, Quebec and the Yukon all participated in wisely preparing for the likelihood of an earthquake emergency.

In BC, “The Big One” is not just a story to scare people. It’s the eventual result of tension building up over time. That’s why it is a good idea to stay aware of your local news, keep communication channels open and perhaps even purchase a Quake Alarm Earthquake Detector for your house! It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.

It was exciting to see a record number of British Columbians participating in the drill, amounting to a total of 785,000 people. An earthquake doesn’t necessarily have to be the end of life as we know it, and by practicing our survival skills, we are much more likely to not only to pull through, but to help others make it out the other end as well.

In Quebec, participation results were also high, and across Canada other communities took part even though their provinces weren’t officially participating in the event.

In Yukon, over 9,000 participants registered for their event which took place on October 22nd.

The ShakeOut, wherever it’s held, is a great reminder for people to get prepared. That means being ready to be self-sufficient for at least a few days. If you live in British Columbia—and especially closer to the coast—it’s highly recommended to plan for at least two weeks of self-sufficiency.

Perhaps try out a basic earthquake kit, such as this one week kit, and build it from there. Or, because it’s designed for 4 people, you can turn it into a 2 person, 2 week kit!

Most importantly, read up on the risk in your area and find out what the best plan of action is for your household. If you missed out on ShakeOut this year, then don’t forget to register for next year! You can also plan your own earthquake drill for your office. There’s no such thing as being over-prepared – you’ll thank yourself later.

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io