Earthquakes
Additional Resources
The B.C. coast is considered a high-risk earthquake zone. Earthquakes are unpredictable and at present there are few warning systems to help detect when one will occur. Earthquakes are common in B.C. and more than 1,200 are recorded each year.
When you feel the ground shake or receive an alert, immediately:
- Drop to your hands and knees. If you’re inside, stay inside – don’t run outdoors or to other rooms
- Cover your head and neck with your arm and take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture. If there is no shelter nearby, crawl to the nearest interior corner or wall while continuing to protect your head and neck
- Hold On to your shelter, covering your head and neck until the shaking stops
When the shaking stops
- Count to 60 before getting up, giving displaced objects a chance to settle
- Stay calm and move cautiously, checking for unstable objects and other hazards above and around you
- Be aware of the potential for aftershocks. Drop, Cover and Hold on every time you feel one
Severe storms occur in all regions of Canada and in all seasons. Listen to the local radio or television stations for severe weather warnings and advice. Keep a battery-powered or wind-up radio on hand as electricity frequently fails during severe storms. Environment Canada issues warnings for severe storms. These storms may include:
- Heavy rain (atmospheric river)
- Wind storms
- Ice storms
- Thunderstorms
Power outages are common during severe storms. BC Hydro has resources to prepare you for power outages, and an outage map to find details on your neighbourhood.
As temperatures rise, it’s important to be prepared and take precautions to ensure you stay safe and healthy in the heat.
Symptoms of heat-related illness include:
- Heavy sweating
- Severe headache
- Muscle cramps
- Rash
- Extreme thirst
- Lightheadedness/fainting
- Dark urine
Ensure during extreme heat events you check on your neighbours! For more information, visit Island Health or check out PreparedBC’s guide.
Wildfires are becoming a greater concern for BC residents.
There are steps you can take to reduce the chance of your home or outbuilding catching fire or to lessen the damage from a nearby wildfire. Check out the FireSmart Begins at Home Guide and the BC Forest Service website.
A tsunami is a rare natural hazard of a series on long surge-like waves and is usually caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption. There are two types of tsunamis: local or felt and distant. The primary tsunami threats in the Capital Region are from a local or felt earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) off the Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island or from the Devil’s Mountain Fault off the south coast of Vancouver Island.
For hazard zones in Oak Bay, visit our map. For the Capital Region, visit www.PrepareYourself.ca