Get yourself and your family prepared for an emergency by signing up now for a free training session to learn to take care of your basic needs for at least 72 hours following a disaster, and participate in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut.
COQUITLAM, BC, October 2, 2020 – Get yourself and your family prepared for an emergency by signing up now for a free training session to learn to take care of your basic needs for at least 72 hours following a disaster, and participate in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut.
Free Preparedness Training
The Coquitlam Emergency Program has a free Personal Family & Community Emergency Preparedness session scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave.). The session uses an earthquake scenario to walk you through the steps to being better prepared at home, including what supplies to assemble in your emergency kit.
Session Details
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020
- Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Cost: Free, Course ID 17991
- Location: Dogwood Pavilion, 1655 Winslow Avenue, North View Room
Pre-registration is required - visit www.coquitlam.ca/emergtraining to sign up online.
Great British Columbia ShakeOut
Coquitlam is also encouraging residents, schools and businesses to join in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut – the largest earthquake drill in B.C. – on October 15 at 10:15 a.m.
Organized by the BC Earthquake Alliance Society, ShakeOut BC provides you with opportunities to practice the "Drop, Cover and Hold On" earthquake protocol and to help prepare for an earthquake at home, school, office, or on the road.
Each year approximately 4,000 earthquakes are recorded in Canada, many in the seismically active region around B.C. Most register as a small magnitude but at least nine earthquakes over the past century in or near Canada have registered a magnitude of seven or more.
In general, people who are prepared for a major disaster will suffer fewer injuries and less property damage, and will be better equipped to care for themselves afterwards as authorities work to restore services.
How to Participate
Visit www.shakeoutbc.ca to register as a participant and download resources (including sound effects to play during the drill and emergency preparation information). At 10:15 a.m. on October 15, practice the “Drop, Cover and Hold On’ protocol:
- Drop to the ground,
- Take cover by getting under a desk/table (or cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building), and
- Hold on for 60 seconds. During this time, look around and imagine what would happen during an earthquake. What could fall down on you or be damaged? Make note of tasks to conduct after the drill, (e.g. anchor large furniture pieces).
After the drill, practice what you will do after the shaking stops.
How to Get Prepared for an Earthquake
- Sign up for a free emergency preparedness course. You can visit www.coquitlam.ca/emergtraining to get details and register online.
- Do a “hazard hunt” in your home, workplace or classroom for items that might fall during earthquakes, and secure them.
- Create a personal or family disaster plan (visit www.getprepared.gc.ca for details).
- Visit www.shakeoutbc.ca for more resources.
Emergency preparedness tips and information can be found at www.coquitlam.ca/preparedness.