Judging by the reaction to the magnitude 2.3 earthquake that woke Squamish residents up in the early morning of Oct. 11 and a local citizen scientist’s concern about Henriette Lake Dam (page A17), worry over “the Big One” hitting Squamish is on our minds.
Scientists agree that B.C. is due for a major earthquake, but exactly when it will happen is extremely difficult to predict.
There is a one-in-10 chance that the Big One, a magnitude 9 or worse earthquake, will strike the B.C. Coast in the next 50 years, according to seismologists. But if you take into account all big earthquakes, the risk rises to a one in 5 chance.
Those are pretty high odds.
This is why Squamish residents bolt awake when a small earthquake – in this case a magnitude 2.3 – causes windows to shake in the middle of the night.
Facebook soon lights up with concern: “Did anyone else feel that earthquake?” “My dogs were acting up all night. They could sense it.” “We need to be prepared for the Big One!”
It’s this uncertainly that has many of us on edge. In the worst-case scenario, the death toll for Metro Vancouver is estimated at 10,000, with around 128,000 people injured, according to experts.
To help prepare, the District of Squamish has launched SquamishAlert, an emergency notification system that sends alerts via text, telephone or email 24/7 about major earthquakes, as well as severe weather, floods and unexpected closures of main roads.
But no matter how much we prepare with emergency kits and practice survival skills in events like The Great British Columbia ShakeOut last week, it doesn’t really ease our minds.
That’s because no one knows for sure what will happen in the worse case scenario. Will the highway close down in both directions? Will older buildings be damaged? Will there be a tsunami, like some scientists predict, and will it reach Squamish?
My biggest concern is getting to my daughter at daycare or, worse, when she is on the North Shore at my in-laws.
There are so many questions that can’t be answered – until the Big One hits.
The best we can do is prepare for it so we don’t live in fear. Have an emergency kit prepared (go to squamish.ca/our-services/emergency-program) and make sure you have a safe location planned to meet your loved ones.
- Michaela Garstin
