Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/162450
preptalk Five Earthquake Myths, Debunked Q&A with Jerry Thompson From standing in a doorway when the shaking starts to packing only three days' worth of food, here's what to believe in the lore-filled world of earthquake preparation by Steve Burgess Jerry Thompson wrote Cascadia's Fault (Counterpoint Press) after producing numerous CBC documentaries about the potential for seismic catastrophe on the West Coast. The book has become a local must-read for its calm but urgent call to preparedness based on science and past events. In 1991 a much-viewed TV clip showed a reporter and film crew sheltering from a Kansas tornado under a highway overpass. A National Weather Service study later claimed that numerous deaths resulted from the clip's erroneous message that, you know, sheltering from a tornado under an overpass was a good idea. So what about earthquakes? Are there similar popular misconceptions about safety and preparedness? We asked local experts to bust the biggest seismic myths. MYTH 1 "It won't happen" This one at least seems to be fading as more people get the message that a big West Coast quake is certain to occur eventually. But according to Jerry Thompson, author of the book Cascadia's Fault (Counterpoint Press), it was not that long ago that even scientists were blasé about coastal seismic danger. "It was thought that no quake had happened along the Cascadia Fault in recorded history," he says. "Now we know by studying Japanese tsunami records that a massive quake happened in 1700, and core samples from the sea bed show we are due for another." MYTH 2 "Shelter under a doorway? Or run outside?" The idea that a doorway is the best place to be has been widely spread. Not true, according to Doug Araki, president of WPS Disaster Management. "Standing in a doorway you're more likely to be hit by debris," he says, "or even the door. 'Drop, cover and hold' is the best strategy." Araki recommends dropping down and taking shelter under a heavy desk or table and then holding on to something heavy. As for escaping outside, it might work in a singlefamily dwelling neighbourhood but is not advised in a high-rise area. "There will be buildings shedding glass and stone," Araki says. "Better to stay inside." iStock, (Jerry Thompson) Robb Douglas p34-35_SPLIT_Prep_Talk.indd 35 MYTH 3 "I'll be fine if my house/building doesn't fall down" Unlike Haiti, building codes in Western Canada are strict. Building collapses could definitely happen but in general, while your home may suffer damage, it's your stuff that's more likely to physically hurt you. "Nonstructural items – lights, ceiling tiles, cabinets, large appliances that are not bolted down – are all potential weapons," Araki says. Bookcases and mirrors coming off the wall and causing injury are also a concern. MYTH 4 "You need 72 hours of emergency supplies" That recommendation has been shown by recent events, particularly the Japanese quake and tsunami, to be inadequate. "One week is a better estimate, and possibly beyond that," Araki says. "Bridges and tunnels could be out and resources overwhelmed." MYTH 5 "This is going to ruin my life" "The Japanese quake and tsunami killed about 16,000," Thompson says. "That's terrible, but millions of people lived in the area. The vast majority will survive. The main question is not 'Will I be killed?' but 'Will I survive the aftermath?' Have a plan – three plans, one for home, one for work, and one for play. Where will you go? Where will you meet with family? Having a plan gives you peace of mind so you don't have to obsess about it." Q: What have recent disasters taught us? A: Japan collected so much data after the recent earthquake and tsunami that there will be thousands of papers written from it. And their situation is almost identical to ours. They are the most prepared country in the world—they are leaps and bounds ahead of us when it comes to preparedness, and yet they got so much wrong. They were preparing for an 8.1 quake and they got a 9, which is many orders of magnitude greater. If even they were surprised, we'd better be ready. Q: Why is a plan so important? A: It will give you peace of mind. Think about the three places you are most likely to be and have a plan for each: A, B and C. If your family members know where to go, it could save you time searching desperately for them in the aftermath. Have an earthquake kit in the car as well as your home. Think about how many people you have to provide for, possibly for two weeks. Q: Where is the danger greatest? A: We know from sediment core samples that the southern section of the Cascadia fault, along the U.S. Pacific Northwest [in Oregon] and northern California, ruptures more frequently. But there are other faults that cause the kind of crustal quakes that can be even more damaging — a fault was recently discovered that runs right through downtown Victoria. And there are always faults we don't know about. We find out about them when — they rupture. • S.B. Event: Register for the province-wide Great British Columbia ShakeOut earthquake drill on Oct. 17 at shakeoutbc.ca W e stwo r l d >> FA L L 2 0 1 3 35 13-08-19 1:17 PM