While we鈥檙e waiting for the Big One, a whole bunch of little ones can catch us unprepared. Discussions of emergency preparedness on Vancouver Island often focus on the possibility of a massive earthquake. And so they should 鈥� we live on what鈥檚 called the Cascadia subduction zone, where 鈥済reat earthquakes,鈥� those of magnitude 8 or higher, occur about every 500 years, with the last one occurring in 1700.
Geologists predict a 37 per cent chance of a magnitude-8.2 quake within 50 years, and a 10 to 15 per cent chance of a magnitude-9 event within that same time frame.
Such a monster quake has the potential for massive damage. It behooves governments, families and individuals to have plans and supplies ready for such an occasion.
It could happen tomorrow, but it could also be another 700 years or more before it happens. Geologists鈥� predictions are based on statistical probabilities, not on certainties.
The certainty is that lesser, but still serious, emergencies occur frequently, as this past week shows. A series of strong storms coupled with high tides has brought flooding to several up-Island communities. Thousands of people were left without power.
sa国际传媒 is no stranger to landslides, a hazard of living in a mountainous region with high precipitation. A landslide can be a mere inconvenience, such as the one that blocked a North Vancouver street a few days ago, or a more deadly disaster, such as the slide that killed 44 people and wiped out a neighbourhood in Washington state in March.
Although crippling snowstorms are uncommon on the south Island, they are always a possibility. In an area unaccustomed to heavy snow, such a storm could mean disruption of traffic and services for days.
Some emergencies are more personal, as an Oak Bay family learned this week when they were driven from their home by carbon monoxide, which they believe resulted from blasting at a construction site next door.
Pondering all the nasty things that can happen could make a person paranoid, but the antidote for that paranoia is preparedness.
Emergency preparedness can go too far 鈥� think of end-of-worlders who build bunkers and stockpile weapons and food enough for years. But most of us are on the other end of the spectrum and do too little.
Being prepared can start small. You can prepare grab-and-go kits for family members, suitcases or knapsacks containing a few essentials 鈥� water, food, medicines, extra clothing 鈥� if you have to leave your home in a hurry.
Emergency Management sa国际传媒 recommends being prepared for the first 72 hours of an emergency. If there鈥檚 a disaster, public-works crews and emergency personnel will have their hands full with such tasks as putting out fires, clearing roads and getting public services working again. You are likely to be on your own for a few days.
The most important item to have on hand is the easiest 鈥� enough water for drinking and hygiene. Having enough food in the house for a few days is also not a huge problem for most people. Keep your car鈥檚 gas tank more than half full. Make sure you have batteries for flashlights and portable radios. Devices are available that can charge phones and tablet computers from standard batteries.
Many businesses are eager to sell you exotic survival supplies 鈥� freeze-dried foods, specialized tools, clothes made from special materials. Those items can certainly be useful, but most of the things you need are everyday items: a basic tool kit, gloves, a whistle for attracting attention, toilet paper and other sanitation supplies.
The chances of a major earthquake hitting Vancouver Island in the next year or two are low. The chances of storms and other life-disrupting events are high. But you鈥檙e less likely to lie awake worrying about such events if you鈥檙e prepared.
