Earthquake Preparedness

When it comes to being prepared for an emergency, people tend to think, “Why bother? It will never happen here.”

Last weekend, it happened here.

 A 2.1 magnitude earthquake struck Langley on Saturday evening, February 7, at 9:23 p.m. Residents from Walnut Grove to Cloverdale heard a loud bang and felt a shake, but luckily no one was hurt and no damage was done.

 But the tremor does serve as a reminder that earthquakes are a reality in this area, and it reinforced the need to be prepared should a quake of a larger magnitude hit.

 “Fortunately this quake was nothing to be concerned about; but what about next time?” said Langley Emergency Coordinator Ginger Sherlock. “What if it is a 4.2 or a 5.7? A quake of that size would be large enough to shake us all about, and maybe even have books and pictures falling, and TVs and computers toppling.”

 According to Sherlock, 70 per cent of all injuries and deaths in earthquakes – whether big or small – come from non-structural damage. Structures such as the framework of buildings usually withstand the quake, but falling debris such as bricks or ceiling tiles, and tall bookcases or fridges that can fall or move, can cause injury or loss of life.

 As well, if the quake is strong enough, electricity can be lost, gas could leak, and water and toilets might not be accessible. Sherlock wonders how many people are truly prepared to cope with those circumstances: “Many say they are prepared. Are you?” she asked.

 Sherlock encourages families and individuals to have grab-and-go kits ready and accessible in case of an earthquake or any other type of emergency. “With a kit your family is prepared for almost everything. If there is a fire you have access to a change of clothes, spare glasses, and important papers, and if you are evacuated for any reason, such as flooding or a chemical spill, again you are ready to go right away and can manage for several days.”

 Sherlock offers the following tips that will help prepare for an earthquake or other emergency:

·        Keep a pair of shoes and a flashlight under your bed to protect your feet from broken glass and debris and provide light if the power is out.

·        Have a phone that does not require electricity, as well as a back-up generator, should the power go off. If you do not have a generator, are you prepared to manage without power? If so, for how long?

·        Ensure there is plenty of food in your pantry that can be cooked without power. Can the barbecue be used to cook meals for your family?

·        Make sure you have bottled water for drinking, as well as for washing your face and hands and for boiling to cook food and make hot drinks.

·        Ensure you have the supplies to create, maintain, and dispose of a portable toilet to ensure hygiene should major water or sewer pipes break.

·        Keep First Aid supplies and other specialty items your family may need, such as extra medication, on hand.

·        Have a plan in place to care for pets and farm animals.

·        Establish a meeting place where your family can gather in case they are separated, and have an out-of-area contact to share information with, should local phone service be limited.

For more information, visit www.langleyemergency.ca, call 604-514-2820, or pick up a copy of the “Prepare now for an earthquake in British Columbia ” pamphlet at the Township of Langley Civic Facility or at the Langley City Hall .  

Did you know? The size of earthquake is now referred to by its magnitude, not as a ranking on the Richter Scale. The Richter Scale was a mathematical formula created in the 1930s by Charles Richter, but it was later found to be unreliable for all earthquakes, as Richter’s method was specific to conditions in California, where it was developed, and based on measurement equipment that is now outdated.

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