Communities on Vancouver Island will get to practice earthquake safety through a BC-wide drill this week.
Called The Great BC ShakeOut, it focuses on getting residents across BC to learn how to stay safe in the event of an earthquake.
BC is the most seismically active province in Canada, with thousands of minor quakes happening each year, according to ShakeOut BC. ShakeOut are the organizers of the annual drill.
They say for the drill, and in a real earthquake, you should to drop, cover, and hold on if you’re in your home while shaking happens.
If outside, find a clear spot in your area away from trees, streetlights, buildings, and power lines before doing the drill.
If you’re driving, they ask you to pull over, stop and keep the seatbelt on until the shaking stops.
This year’s drill is set on October 17, with several communities on the Island and Coast holding drills that day.
In the Comox Valley, schools including Miracle Beach Elementary do their drill between 9:45 and 10 a.m.
For Campbell River, they’re holding a self-guided exercise between 10:17 and 10:24 a.m.
For the Sunshine Coast, the Regional District of Nanaimo will have facilities in the area run the drill, with buses to pull over to take part. VIU will have their drill in the Nanaimo campus at 9:45 a.m.
The drill will start at 10:17 a.m. that day.
To sign up, click here.
