Squamish will once again join residents across the province to ‘Drop, Cover and Hold On’ during B.C.’s largest earthquake drill returning Thursday, October 21 at 10:21 am.
The Squamish exercise will also include a test of the SquamishAlert emergency notification system to all subscribed residents.
More than 720,000 British Columbians are set to take part in the annual exercise aimed at raising awareness about how to prepare to survive and recover quickly from major earthquakes wherever you live, work or travel.
More than 6,690 residents have signed up for SquamishAlert, the free local alert system that delivers emergency information and instructions by voice, email and text. Residents can sign up or update their existing profile at squamish.ca/alert.
District employees across all municipal buildings will participate in this exercise. Tune into Mountain FM for an audio simulation of an earthquake at 10:21 a.m.
“This 60-second exercise could save the lives of you and your family in the event of an actual emergency. Being prepared and knowing precisely what to do during those crucial first few minutes of a natural disaster is essential,” says Mayor Karen Elliott.
“The District has a robust emergency plan in place reinforced with the latest technology in our emergency alert system. We encourage all residents to ensure we’re prepared as a community by learning the hazards, knowing our evacuation zones, and building an emergency kit equipped for those first critical 72 hours.”
For more information and to register for the Great B.C. Shake Out, visit http://shakeoutbc.ca.
To learn more about local emergency preparedness and learn about Squamish’s evacuation plan, visit https://squamish.ca/evacuate.
