Great BC ShakeOut: Former Mountie shares own experience with earthquakes

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s something no one wants to experience, but here in B.C. we have been warned for years to expect the ‘Big One.’

Today, the Great British Columbia ShakeOut takes place at 10:15 a.m. and offers an opportunity to practice how to be safe when the earth shakes – at home, work or school.

Dan Moskaluk was with the RCMP for more than 33 years and was seconded twice in Haiti as a peacekeeper with the United Nations.

In 2004, Moskaluk was out for dinner with friends when the ground started shaking. “You know when it hits, and you know that feeling…It’s quite a sober and humbling event,” he recalls.

He wasn’t in the country for the massive earthquake in 2010, which killed hundreds of thousands of people. However, he says as someone who was based there with the UN, it was heart-wrenching to see the suffering and tragedy.

Moskaluk says there is a lot of value in the Great B.C. ShakeOut.

“I think it’s important for people to be prepared for these natural disasters, because when a large-scale natural disaster hits, you can expect to be on your own, literally speaking. Because we know that with these large scale disasters, communication systems can go down. Our first responder and emergency services will be in triage mode of responding or trying to respond to the best of their abilities, contending with the disaster as it unfolds.”

This year’s ShakeOut will be virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but more than 715,000 people in B.C. are expected to take part. Around the world, more than 27 million people will drop, cover and hold on.

Naomi Yamamoto, president of the BC Earthquake Alliance, says “2020 has taught us to be ready for anything.”

“Now is the time to update our emergency plans and test our skills during ShakeOut. By practicing our drop, cover and hold-on, we can all feel safe when the earth shakes,” she adds.

What to do During an Earthquake

When you feel the ground shake, immediately drop, cover and hold on.

Drop to your hands and knees. If you’re inside, stay inside – don’t run outdoors or to other rooms.

Cover your head and neck with your arm and take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture. If there is no shelter nearby, crawl to the nearest interior corner or wall while continuing to protect your head and neck.

Hold on to your shelter, covering your head and neck until the shaking stops.

What to do After an Earthquake

When the earthquake is over and shaking has stopped, count to 60 before getting up.

Stay calm and move cautiously, checking for unstable objects and other hazards above and around you.

Be aware of the potential for aftershocks – and continue to drop, cover and hold on every time you feel one.

This year, going the extra mile might mean participating at a different time or location, with physical distancing and other protective measures in place.

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