Feel an Earthquake? Drop! Cover! Hold On!
When you feel the ground shake, immediately drop, cover and hold on.
- Drop to your hands and knees. If you’re inside, stay inside – don’t run outdoors or to other rooms.
- Cover your head and neck with your arm and take shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture. If there is no shelter nearby, crawl to the nearest interior corner or wall while continuing to protect your head and neck.
- Hold on to your shelter, covering your head and neck until the shaking stops.
Preparing now could save your life!
An earthquake could hit B.C. at any time. Start preparing by developing your family emergency plan.
PreparedBC - Get Prepared for an Earthquake
Learn more - Tsunami Awareness
Tsunami Notification Zones
What to do when you're...
Outside
Immediately drop, cover and hold on. Move to a clear area only if you can safely do so. Don't run. Avoid buildings, power lines, trees, signs, vehicles and other hazards.
Driving
Pull over, stop and set the handbrake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
Near the shore or on the beach
Immediately evacuate to high ground. Don’t wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk quickly, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris and other hazards.
PreparedBC Earthquake and Tsunami Guide
Earthquake Risk Profiler
Would you like to learn about the potential impacts from specific earthquake scenarios?
View the Natural Resources Canada Risk Profiler tool, designed to look at different scenarios and understand how you can be prepared.