By Margaret Houben
More than 3,000 earthquakes occur in British Columbia each year. Most are too small to be felt, but the risk of one big enough to cause significant damage is very real. Participating in ShakeOutBC is an effective way to better understand B.C.’s earthquake risk and how to prepare.
On Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m., millions of people worldwide will practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” during Great ShakeOut earthquake drills.
On the internet, there is a website - www.shakeoutbc.ca - that has a lot of great information on how to participate in this event, and on how to better prepare yourself for an earthquake - before, during, and after.
READ MORE: ShakeOut website
You may think that earthquakes are only likely to happen along the coast - think again! In 2015, CBC News reported, “B.C. scientists last week warned that a massive super-thrust earthquake is overdue to strike the province. Predicting earthquakes is a difficult proposition in the best of times, but British Columbia is particularly challenging with the extensive network of fault lines that spread like a matrix across the province.”
In the North Thompson Valley, schools that will participate include Raft River Elementary, Vavenby Elementary, and Blue River Elementary.