Vancouver and British Columbia are at a high-risk of having an earthquake. Be prepared, and learn what you can do to keep you, your family, and your home safe.
For your family:
- Identify objects in your home that could be dangerous during an emergency
- Plan evacuation routes from every room in your home
- Pick two meeting places where you and your family can get back together if you get separated – one close to your home, and one a little further away
- Ask an out-of-province relative or friend to be your family contact person
- Prepare your emergency kits
- Teach family members how to turn off utilities, use a fire extinguisher, and call 9-1-1
- Make arrangements for seniors and family members with special needs
- Save digital copies of important documents — such as birth certificates and financial records — on a memory stick, or make photocopies of them
- Think about what you might be able to contribute to your community; sharing a meal, tools, or a phone charger are especially meaningful in the days after an emergency
For your home:
- Install latches on cupboards
- Refer to emergency preparedness manuals that are available in bookstores and libraries.
- Place large and heavy objects on lower shelves
- Fasten tall furniture to the walls
- Store breakable items, such as glass jars and china, in low closed cabinets with latches
- Hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, away from beds, couches, or anywhere people sit
- Anchor overhead lighting fixtures securely to the ceiling
- Know the locations of electric fuse or circuit breaker box, water service shut-off, and natural gas main shut-off as you may need to turn them off after the earthquake
- Purchase earthquake insurance
Find more tips at the City of Vancouver website
