In BC, scientists are more worried about landslides caused by earthquakes than they are about the earthquakes themselves. The area is prone to landslides due to its steep terrain, and a landslide that occurs during an earthquake could cause far more destruction than the earthquake itself. Scientists are attempting to establish a warning system for landslides and are studying historical records of past landslides to better understand the risks.
The upcoming megathrust earthquake known as the “Big One” has been a concern on BC’s south coast for years – but some scientists are even more concerned about the potential impact of smaller tremors near Metro Vancouver.
The long-feared magnitude nine megathrust earthquake will come from the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the coast of Vancouver Island, which is being subducted by the North American plate. But there are also faults west of Vancouver in the Georgia Straits and south of the US border at Abbotsford.
Without downplaying the severity of the big one, scientists fear tremors hitting closer to the province’s largest cities could have serious consequences for even more people.
“We think these faults are capable of producing magnitude six, maybe even seven earthquakes, so these are the types of structures that we’re really worried about,” said Dr. John Clague from the Department of Earth Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
“We’re actually more concerned about this one, in terms of the potential local impact of a magnitude six or seven earthquake, than the big one.”
The good news is that the type of strong 7.8-magnitude tremors the world is experiencing in Turkiye and Syria are rare, and Clague does not believe British Columbia will experience a similar type “in the near or mid-term.”
“The downside is that we might not be able to handle it,” he warned. “We would not be prepared for an earthquake like this. There is simply no way to fully prepare for a disaster of this magnitude.”
Metro Vancouver has seismic provisions in the building codes, but Clague believes they aren’t strong enough to withstand such a large quake.
Perhaps not surprisingly, since the Turkiye and Syria earthquakes, there has been a sudden increase in the number of people preparing and buying emergency kits.
The City of Vancouver recommends one carry-on bag for each person in a household. Each kit should contain a flashlight, radio, water, food, whistle, gloves, plastic poncho, notepad, first aid kit, and prescribed medication. Anyone with a pet should make sure their bag has dry food and extra water.
“Having cash in your pocket is essential,” advised Vancouver emergency planning coordinator Jackie Kloosterboer.
“After an earthquake or major disaster, you may not have access to ATMs.”
A copy of important documents, like insurance papers, is also a good idea.
Kloosterboer also recommends checking the kits every six months for items that may have expired and need to be replaced.
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