CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – The Strathcona Regional District is hosting Campbell River’s second Shake Out and Get Out on October 18th.
According to a news release, the purpose of the exercise is to create awareness of where the flood zones are (pictured), create awareness of evacuation routes, and test evacuation actions.
“The community exercise on October 18 will encourage residents to take action to help themselves. People need to know whether they can get outside the flood zone after the shaking stops,” said Shaun Koopman, protective services coordinator with the Strathcona Regional District. “Depending how close people are to the river and how far upstream, they will have between 30 and 60 minutes to get outside the flood zone once the shaking stops.”
Here’s what the city is asking residents to do on October 18th:
- 10:18 AM: Drop, cover and hold onunder a desk or table for two minutes (anticipated minimum time shaking would last during a major earthquake.)
- 10:20 AM: After the “shaking” stops, count to 60, then begin evacuation.
- 10:24 AM: Evacuate to the nearest designated exercise checkpoint on foot or by bicycle. Register at the checkpoint and return to your original location.
There will be five exercise checkpoints set up at the following locations:
- Maritime Heritage Centre
- City Hall
- École-Phoenix Middle School
- Woodburn and Spring roads intersection
- 9th Avenue and Ironwood intersection
In case of an earthquake, low-lying areas in Campbell River, including the downtown area, would be at risk of flooding and the Strathcona Regional District hopes the Shake Out event will help prepare residents. Shake Out participants can also have a chance to win emergency preparedness prizes when they register themselves at an exercise checkpoint.
Campbell River sits on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 1, 000 kilometre fault line running from northern Vancouver Island to northern California.
