The Big One is Coming

Between 2004 and 2005 nearly half a million people died in earthquakes, and many more had their lives ruined. The Pacific Northwest is located in a high earthquake region known as the ring of fire that runs along the coastal regions of the Pacific Ocean like a horseshoe. Vancouver and Vancouver Island are located between two large crustal plates and one small one: The Pacific and North American plates and the Juan De Fuca plate. The Pacific plate is pushing the Juan De Fuca against and under the North America plate in a process called subduction. So this region is known as the Cascadia subduction zone.

Subduction occurs in jolts. The plate sticks against the plate above it, producing huge amounts of pressure- until it eventually slips and causes a thrust type earthquake which can be of magnitute 8 or 9+. This is different than the plate movements in California, where the plates are rubbing against each other laterally. The Cascadia Subduction process is what has formed the mountains of the Pacific Northwest region. The last 9+ earthquake in this region was in January of 1700, In other words, we have one coming.

The earthquake will move the sea floor from Vancouver Island to Northern California, pushing roughly to 10m upward at the fault itself- sending a tsunami towards the west coast and Vancouver Island. Roads, piping, sewers will all be broken open by the shaking. Fires will start and the ground will sink in low lying areas with soft ground as the soil becomes saturated with water. The tsunami will hit with several waves, growing stronger with the later waves. Everything from buildings to bodies will be sucked out to sea with each wave that hits. Debris will block transportation on highways and railways. Medical facilities and police will be overworked and overloaded. Emergency supplies will have a hard time arriving due to road and rail closures, and damage to sea ports.

And this is what you will need to prepare for in the event of a Coastal Earthquake.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS AND OTHER DISASTER TYPES

COME TO "ESCAPING GROUND ZERO" OUR WORKSHOP ON HOW TO GET

YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES TO SAFETY IN A MASS EMERGENCY

MAY 21ST AT THE PETER KAYE ROOM IN THE VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY

1PM AT THE DOWNTOWN BRANCH

$20 PLUS TAX AT THE DOOR