Office of the Premier
To prepare for tsunamis and earthquakes, people are encouraged to practise evacuation routes and drop, cover and hold on during ShakeOut BC.
To learn if you live in, work in or visit a tsunami-hazard zone, visit the Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal: http://maps.prepareyourself.ca
The main tsunami risk in the capital region is from a felt earthquake. People should drop, cover and hold on during the earthquake. Once the shaking stops, people in a tsunami-hazard zone should leave the area immediately. People outside a hazard zone should remain in place if it is safe and be prepared to help family and friends who need shelter.
People living and working in tsunami-hazard zones are encouraged to practise their evacuation routes on foot or bike with family, friends or colleagues to prepare for a tsunami risk. Most people will not need to travel far to reach safety. As demonstrated by the information portal, most of the capital region’s coastline is elevated with a limited risk of tsunami and is at low-to-minimal risk of a distant tsunami. However, it’s important for people to know where the tsunami-hazard zones are located, so they are informed and can understand potential risks.
This year, during the Great British Columbia ShakeOut on Oct. 20 at 10:20 a.m., people throughout B.C. in schools, workplaces and public places, will practise how to drop, cover and hold on.
People are also encouraged to prepare by making a home emergency plan and building a home emergency kit and grab-and-go bags with supplies for at least 72 hours. Kits should include non-perishable food, such as cans or granola bars, a first-aid kit, flashlights, extra batteries, a radio and a backup of all critical documents.
Quick Facts:
- The capital region is an at-risk area to tsunami hazards from several potential sources, including the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the Alaska-Aleutian Subduction Zone and local shallow crustal faults.
- In September 2022, the Province and the Capital Regional District released the new Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal that identifies tsunami-hazard zones along the coast.
- The Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal is a Regional Emergency Management Partnership initiative co-developed with GeoBC.
- As of Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, there have been more than 26,500 visits to the Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal.
Learn More:
Capital Region Tsunami Information Portal: http://maps.prepareyourself.ca
Register for the Great British Columbia ShakeOut: https://www.shakeoutbc.ca/
PreparedBC’s earthquake and tsunami preparedness guide: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/know-your-hazards/earthquakes-tsunamis
Prepare Yourself - A Guide to Emergency Preparedness in the Capital Region: https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/prepareyourself/epworkbook-ed4.pdf?sfvrsn=a2526dca_16
The Capital Region Flood Inundation Mapping Project: https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/data/climate-change/coastal-flood-inundation-mapping-project
