Today is the day for the Great British Columbia Shake Out, and with two recent quakes in the area, the event may have more meaning.
The City of Delta encouraged everyone to participate in the drill which took place this morning, Oct. 17, at 10:17 a.m.
“In the event of a major earthquake, the Drop, Cover and Hold On method can save your life,” said the city on Facebook.
The BC Earthquake Alliance, composed of national and provincial agencies, hosted the event, which involves organizations or businesses signing up and learning and practising, the Drop, Cover and Hold On drill.
At the time the drill begins, people drop to the ground or floor, take cover under a table or desk, and hold on, just as if a real earthquake was happening.
People then wait for the “shaking” to stop and then count to 60 to allow objects that may have shifted to settle, then cautiously emerge from the cover.
While taking cover, people can also imagine what would happen during a major quake.
Other things to consider for earthquake preparedness are having an earthquake kit with food, water and emergency supplies for three days.
Making grab-and-go bags with emergency supplies are good to have in your vehicle or workplace.
Workplaces or families also should have a plan on how to respond during an earthquake.
The drill involves millions of people worldwide and this year in B.C., 740,267 people participated, compared to 725,000 last year.
Parts of southern B.C. felt two quakes recently, one on Oct. 4, with a magnitude of 3.5, about 18 kilometres west of Delta, at a depth of 65 kilometres.
Another magnitude 3.8 quake happened Sept. 26 in Haro Strait, 11 km east of Sidney, and almost 55 km below the earth’s surface and was felt in Nanaimo and Parksville.
