On the eve of National Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9), and following the recent devastation in Nepal, the Province is demonstrating the impacts a major earthquake could have here at home.

Today, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton offered the public with a glimpse of the impact a high-magnitude earthquake can have on your home and your family by participating in a quake simulator. The “Quake Cottage” will be touring several Lower Mainland communities over the next nine days so those British Columbians in areas at high risk of earthquakes can better understand the need to be prepared.

(flickr.com)

Quotes:

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton -

“It’s too easy to become complacent, too easy to put off creating an emergency kit and too easy to ignore the fact that a major earthquake will happen here. We need British Columbians to join us and be motivated to get prepared for when the big one hits. Quake Cottage and the new resources EMBC has created will help do just that.”

Insurance Bureau of Canada, vice-president Western and Pacific, Bill Adams -

“Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility and Insurance Bureau of Canada is pleased to work with the government to help prepare British Columbia for an earthquake. By working together we can help make sure everyone is better prepared both physically and financially. Everyone has a role to play in preparing for a major earthquake.”

Vancouver Fire, assistant chief, Joe Foster -

“We are all in this together. It is up to all of us - individuals, businesses, governments and responding agencies - to think about and take action on earthquake safety and preparedness. We cannot predict when disaster will occur and we cannot wait until it does to prepare. The resilience of this province depends on all of us taking action, making our plans and preparing our emergency kits, now.”

(flickr.com)

• Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility that begins with every individual and family making a plan and preparing a kit that includes knowing where everyone is to meet after a disaster, what their evacuation routes and emergency contacts are.
• The most basic emergency kit requires adequate food and water per person and pet for at least 72 hours, as well as warm clothes, prescriptions, medical supplies and important papers.

Learn More:

PreparedBC: www.gov.bc.ca/PreparedBC

Quake Cottage: www.quakecottage.com

Emergency Info BC: www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca

Emergency kits and plans: www.getprepared.gc.ca

Insurance Bureau of Canada emergency preparedness resources: http://www.ibc.ca/bc/disaster/emergency-preparedness

National Emergency Preparedness Week, May 3-9: http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/EPweek

Two backgrounders follow.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602

BACKGROUNDER 1

Infrastructure around B.C. is getting seismic upgrades

Since 2001, B.C. has invested over $15 billion in seismic infrastructure upgrades. This includes over $4 billion in bridge and large highway seismic retrofits, $2.2 billion in seismic upgrades for schools, and another $9 billion for capital upgrades to B.C.’s hospitals to ensure they’re built to the latest seismic requirements.

Transportation infrastructure:

• The Port Mann Bridge/Highway 1 and Pitt River Bridge projects have been newly built to modern day seismic standards.
• The Lions Gate, Oak Street, Ironworkers Memorial, and Queensborough bridges, and the George Massey Tunnel have been seismically retrofitted.
• The $21-million seismic retrofit of the Mission Bridge on Highway 11 is scheduled for completion this fall.
• The Agassiz-Rosedale bridge seismic retrofit is currently in the design stage.

Health facilities:

The health sector has also committed another $2.7 billion over the next three years for capital investments, including new, modernized and seismically upgraded health facilities. This includes:

• Redeveloping and seismically upgrading both BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and the Penticton Regional Hospital.

Three new hospitals in Haida Gwaii, Comox and Campbell River, which will all be built to modern seismic standards.

Education facilities:

• The Ministry of Education’s comprehensive seismic mitigation program is recognized worldwide.  International experts come here to learn from the work upgrading or replacing all high-risk schools.
• Today, 146 projects are completed, 10 are under construction, nine are proceeding to construction and 48 projects are in various stages of planning.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602

BACKGROUNDER 2

Quake Cottage Community Tour Schedule

The Quake Cottage will be touring the Lower Mainland May 1-9 in the following locations:

• May 1: City of North Vancouver: Lonsdale Quay Market, 138 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver; 5-10 p.m.

• May 2:City of North Vancouver: Park Royal Shopping Center, 2002 Park Royal St., West Vancouver; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• May 3:City of Maple Ridge: Albion Fairgrounds, 23588 - 105th Avenue, Maple Ridge; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• May 4:Corporation of Delta: Harris Barn, 4140 Arthur Drive, Delta; 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

• May 5:City of Vancouver (City Hall): Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Ave Vancouver; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• May 6:City of Coquitlam: Coquitlam Centre, 2929 Barnet Hwy, Coquitlam; 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

• May 7:City of White Rock: White Rock Fire Hall, 15315 Pacific Ave, White Rock; 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• May 8:City of Richmond: Minoru Park, 7191 Granville Avenue, Richmond; 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

• May 9:District of North Vancouver: Lynn Valley Village, 1233 - 1277 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 213-3602