Earthquakes are a risk in Canada. Here’s how to stay safe
Canada records about 4,000 earthquakes every year
Earthquakes are a serious hazard across Canada.
There are about 4,000 earthquakes recorded across the country in a typical year, according to Earthquakes Canada, though only about 50 of them are ever strong enough for folks to feel the shaking.
An earthquake can strike at any time with little to no notice before the shaking starts. It’s important to stay aware of the threat for earthquakes no matter where you are, and how to stay safe if you’re ever caught in one.
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Earthquake safety tips
Preparedness is the key to staying safe during any disaster. Prepare an emergency kit, a grab-and-go bag, and an evacuation plan for your home. Always keep a supply of food and water on hand, as well as batteries, flashlights, and a radio to have in the event of an emergency.
If you’re ever in an earthquake, remember: drop, cover, and hold on.
DROP to the ground at the first sign of shaking. An earthquake can cause you to fall and get hurt. If you’re in a wheelchair, lock your wheels at the first sign of shaking.
TAKE COVER under a heavy, sturdy object such as a desk or a dining room table. The goal is to protect your head and torso from falling objects and debris.
HOLD ON to the object you’re under until the shaking stops.
Minimize the risk of injury from falling objects by securing tall or heavy furniture and appliances to the walls. This includes stoves, water heaters, bookshelves, and televisions. Avoid hanging large or heavy objects above your bed.
The risk for injury won’t stop after the shaking ends. Beware serious hazards in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake. Debris, broken glass, exposed electrical lines, and gas leaks may be present.
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Tectonic plates drive most earthquakes
An earthquake is a sudden release of energy beneath the surface that causes the ground to shake. Most earthquakes form along underground fault lines, which are fractures or boundaries between two different types of rock.
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Earth’s crust is made up of huge tectonic plates that float on the planet’s molten core. These plates are in constant motion. The vast majority of the planet’s earthquakes occur when plates rub against each other.
Canada’s greatest earthquake threat exists across Western Canada where the Juan de Fuca Plate is colliding with and sliding beneath the North American Plate. This type of interaction makes the West Coast highly vulnerable to strong earthquakes.
Fault lines exist within tectonic plates, as well. These intraplate faults can cause earthquakes far away from plate boundaries. Across Canada, there’s an elevated risk for tremors across western Alberta, the Ottawa and St. Lawrence Valleys, as well as large swaths of the North.
Volcanoes and landslides can also cause localized earthquakes, as can human activities like quarry blasting, munitions testing, and hydraulic fracking.
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Earthquakes can cause tsunamis
Another major risk in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake is the potential for tsunamis.
A tsunami is a series of large, persistent waves caused by the sudden displacement of a body of water. Earthquakes are responsible for more than 80 per cent of tsunamis that form around the world, according to NOAA.
If you’re along the coast and you feel a strong earthquake, move inland to higher ground immediately. Tsunami waves can arrive within minutes of shaking. The first tsunami wave isn’t always the largest. Subsequent waves can arrive minutes to hours later.
The ocean often recedes before a tsunami arrives. If you observe the water pulling back to reveal the seafloor, or if the water unexpectedly begins to rise, move inland to higher ground as quickly as possible.