cy www.theotherpress.ca Feature running, and inspecting the building for safety and capability for operation. From there, many untraditional emergency drills will be conducted. THE DLAKE The severity of earthquakes is one of the many things Vancouverites neglect, though I can’t blame them. We can’t necessarily live our lives anticipating disaster, but it’s reckless to be ignorant—especially after we’ve been given extensive warning. Earthquakes are nature’s most violent fits. The best strategy is far from heroic: the drop, cover, and hang on for dear life method. Common myths advise you to seek safety beneath a doorway or run outside. In the occurrence of a megathrust, however, these methods are regarded as unsafe. In many modern buildings, doorways are no more soundly structured than any other part, while it’s been proven that falling objects inside buildings more often injure people than the buildings themselves. If you are in a room without any immediate shelter, do not flee. Instead, crouch down in the corner for stability and cover your head and face. If you happen to be outside, quickly find an open area without power lines or buildings. If you are driving, pull over and remain inside the vehicle. The key points to remember during an earthquake are: if you are inside, stay inside; if you are outside, stay outside; and avoid anything that may break or fall. THE AFTERMATH So you survived the upheaval, but the crisis is far from over. After the noise and quiver of the first shake, be ready for an aftershock that could occur anywhere from minutes to days after. Until then, follow the safety procedure and exit any building, assuming it is damaged. Any structure built before 2005's strict earthquake code or ones that haven’t been subjected to seismic upgrades are seriously at risk of collapsing. Vancouver has over 8,000 buildings considered vulnerable, should a seismic attack hit. Expect to be on your own without any emergency response for the next 72 hours after an earthquake. Electricity and telephone reception, both landline and cellular, will most likely be down. If communication has not been completely severed, Henson wants people to refrain from making phone calls. For those who need to communicate, sending text messages is the best means for contacting others. Different areas of the Lower Mainland will suffer different consequences following the earthquake. Congested areas like downtown Vancouver will be isolated, as all bridges will be closed. Don’t consider driving or traveling far either, as the city will be one big construction site—what else is new though? Although, the Lower Mainland is not a high- risk tsunami zone, coastal areas should still be avoided. All the while, Vancouver Island and Northern BC should take tsunami precautions. Waves have been known to hit land within minutes after the initial shock. The best way to prepare for such a crisis is to be knowledgeable about your surroundings. After an earthquake, experts estimate that citizens only have 10 minutes to get to higher ground, preferably 15 metres above sea level. In the Lower Mainland, communities in Richmond, Delta, and the Fraser Valley built at sea level will be at the greatest risk. The soft, swampy foundation will cause flooding and soil liquefaction. Mitigation is the main defense; from there, the city can only hope that the structural standards and regular dike inspections are protection enough from the inevitable. In all the scenarios, it is important to locate proper necessities, both medical and sustenance. No one should be complacent when it comes to survival gear. Take an afternoon and go stock up with a friend, a co-worker, or a family member. Preparation for an earthquake may seem tedious, but it is your responsibility to ensure as much as possible has been done to prepare. Miracles are not a reality, but earthquakes are. So don’t be surprised if tomorrow the globe stammers and whiny ol’ Vancouver is left speechless. The Other Press’ Layout Manager Cody Klyne is ahead of the game in preparing for the worst 3