Do you know what to do if a tsunami hits B.C.? Province issues annual reminder to be prepared
B.C.’s annual push to get people who live in coastal communities thinking about what to do, where to go and how to respond if a tsunami hits is officially underway.
Tsunami Preparedness Week runs from April 14 to 20 this year and comes just weeks after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake near Taiwan triggered a tsunami risk assessment for the West Coast, according to a bulletin released by the province on Friday.
"Many areas along the coast of B.C. are at risk of tsunamis, which are a series of giant waves that can send surges of water to shore quickly and cause severe damage," said Bowinn Ma, minister of emergency management and climate readiness.
"While it's hard to imagine a tsunami happening, getting prepared now and knowing what to do should one happen can help keep you and your loved ones safe.”
A number of communities are hosting “High Ground Hikes” to inform residents about where to go if a tsunami strikes, what the local risk is, how best to prepare and how to stay informed.
“Most tsunamis are caused by earthquakes that occur under or very near the ocean. People living on the coast in a tsunami zone should drop, cover and hold on when an earthquake occurs and immediately move to higher ground after the shaking stops,” the statement from the province says.
In the event of a tsunami – or when there is risk of one – the provincial government will issue different types of alerts, depending on the severity of the situation:
- An information statement is issued when there is no threat or when a very distant event occurs that is good to be aware of;
- A watch is issued when a distant tsunami is possible. People should stay tuned for information and be prepared to act;
- An advisory is issued when strong currents and waves may occur that could be dangerous to people close to the water. People should stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways;
- A warning is issued when dangerous coastal flooding and strong currents are possible. People will be instructed to move to high ground or inland.
The last time a tsunami hit B.C. shores, the province says, was in 1964 following the 9.2-magnitude Great Alaska Earthquake.
More information on tsunamis and emergency preparedness is available online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince William and Kate release photo of daughter Charlotte to mark ninth birthday
Prince William and his wife Kate released a picture of their daughter Charlotte to mark the princess's ninth birthday on Thursday.
This Canadian restaurant just lowered its prices. Here's how it did it
A Canadian restaurant lowered its prices this week, and though news of price tags dropping rather than climbing sounds unusual, the business strategy in this case is not, according to experts in the field.
Man involved in Dartmouth, N.S., emergency alert earlier this week turns himself in
A 49-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged assault that happened earlier this week in Dartmouth, N.S.
Concerns about Plexiglas prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall Plexiglas barriers.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Goring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Imagine living in a 4-foot body that doesn't develop chronic diseases
Nathaly Paola Castro Torres has a rare disorder called Laron syndrome that is caused by a genetic mutation. It stunts her growth but also provides a hidden silver lining: Her body is protected from chronic diseases such as cancer that often take life away long before old age.
'Oh, there you go': Tyler Black, son of veteran broadcaster Rod Black, has memorable Major League Baseball debut
Canadian baseball player Tyler Black made a major splash in his first-ever big league game for the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Groundbreaking American guitarist Duane Eddy dies age 86
Guitarist Duane Eddy, best known for twangy riffs on hits such as 'Rebel Rouser' and 'Cannonball,' has died at the age of 86.
Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked like
Scientists studying a Neanderthal woman's remains have painstakingly pieced together her skull from 200 bone fragments to understand what she may have looked like.