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On Sunday May 25 approximately 65 Coal Harbour and West End Residents attended a workshop on Emergency Preparedness. Lt. Michael Smith from Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services’ explained what do to do in case of an earthquake. At the Coal Harbour Community Centre Resident learned of the importance of protecting their head in a natural disaster.
In the event of an earthquake one has 10 seconds to find a place to protect one’s head. Lt Smith stated that most people natural instinct when experiencing a earth quake is to go to a window and look outside to see what is going on, but this would be the wrong action to take. When one experiences an earthquake what one should think is: “what is the best way to protect my head”. Typically the best course of action is to hide under a table and to hold there for 60 seconds until after the earth quake stops. Lt. Smith described this safety strategy as “drop, cover and hold.”
In the case of subduction zone earth quake residents should be prepared to be on their own for 3 days. That means we have to have 4 L of water person per day on hand. Some other importance items one should have on hand is food, flashlights, cash (bank machines won’t be working), battery powered radio, batteries, first aid kit, medications and duct tape. (it’s true that one cannot have too many rolls of tuck tape.)
The best place to be in an earthquake is inside. Buildings built after 1964 will with stand an earthquake. If you are outside you are more at risk of having something fall on your head. Find a safe place to protect your head away from a window. If you smell gas get out of the building immediately.
These are only a few highlights of the workshop. To be fully prepared for a natural disaster one should attend a workshop or visit the link to the right for WERA’s Emergency Preparedness links.