Information provided by UBC Vancouver’s Shakeout BC website: emergency.ubc.ca/shakeout/
2014 will mark UBC’s fifth year participating in the province-wide ShakeOut BC earthquake preparedness exercise. Why is it important to do a DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON drill? To react quickly you must practice often. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake, before strong shaking knocks you down–or drops something on you. Practicing helps you be ready to respond.
On October 16, 2014 at 10:16 a.m. we encourage the UBC community to:
- DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!)
- Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
- HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
Stay indoors till the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. In most buildings in British Columbia you are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops.
If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, you should find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
Stay there until the shaking stops.
If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seat belt fastened until the shaking stops.
Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged.
In BC, minor earthquakes are not infrequent (1,200 are recorded each year in BC) and a major earthquake will eventually occur in Vancouver.
Watch the video for more information