The Great BC Shakeout, 2025
- kc dyer
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Are YOU prepared?
It's always important to prepare for the unexpected, according to Lions Bay Emergency Program Coordinator Mary Brown.
"Drills and practicing help make reactions more automatic when emergency situations occur," says Brown. "Panic and muddled thinking are the enemies of calm reaction. Calm reaction allows you to assess, assist and stay safe."
Tomorrow is the perfect time to do just that. October 16 marks the province's annual reminder that here in BC, we live on a massive earthquake fault. British Columbia is considered to be one of the most seismically active areas in the world, and while not all of them can be felt, more than 3,000 earthquakes occur each year in this province. The risk of experiencing a major earthquake event is very real, so it’s important to be prepared.
Those in schools, offices and places of business across the province are encouraged to stop what you are doing at 10:16 a.m. on Thursday and take the time to "stop, drop and hold."
But preparedness needs to go further than a four-minute exercise, according to Brown.
She says that two easy things that everyone can do right now to plan for future emergencies are:
Put an old pair of closed-toed shoes under your bed. You may have to cross broken glass and debris to leave your house or go to other parts of your house to assist others.
Always place your house and car keys in the same place. The same goes for your phone. You definitely want to leave your house with these two items.
For more ideas on how to ready your family for a sudden emergency, check out preparedness information HERE.
The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, October 16, 10:16 am
Have a preparedness hint to share?
Leave your comments below, or email us at editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca
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