Earthquake Early Warning system launches in B.C.

Earthquakes are not uncommon around B.C., and with preparedness top of mind, a new system aims to alert people in the west as early as possible when a seismic event hits.

The B.C. and federal governments have announced the Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) is now operational in western Canada.

The system works through a network of sensors. Officials say if there is a potentially harmful earthquake detected, the system will automatically issue an alert “through the National Public Alerting System seconds to tens of seconds before strong shaking starts, providing people in British Columbia with a few seconds to ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On.'”

“[Natural Resources Canada] is also working with critical infrastructure operators to ensure they directly receive authenticated, technically detailed earthquake alert messages. Operators will use these warnings to trigger automatic protective measures for trains, bridges and tunnels,” NRCan explained in a release Thursday.

Examples of protective measures operators could take include stopping traffic from using bridges and tunnels, preventing planes from landing, and stopping trains to prevent derailments.

‘The difference between life and death’

B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma highlights how critical this system is, noting B.C. is more prone to earthquakes than anywhere else in Canada.

“It’s important that we use the most advanced methods available to protect people across the province,” she said. “The Earthquake Early Warning system can help save lives and prevent injuries by giving people precious seconds to protect themselves and others. We’ve partnered with the Government of Canada on this life-saving system as part of our ongoing efforts to improve and expand our tools to keep people safe before, during and after emergencies.”

Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Harjit Sajjan echoed the importance of timely warnings, saying they can mean “the difference between life and death.”

“This early warning system is a critical investment in Canada’s emergency preparedness and response, empowering individuals and communities to take action and reduce the devastating impact of seismic events. By providing crucial seconds to seek safety, we can save lives, reduce injuries and minimize damage to infrastructure and the environment. This system is a vital tool for emergency responders, healthcare providers and all Canadians, helping us build a more resilient nation from coast to coast to coast,” he said.

The EEW system is set to expand, with officials saying it will be fully operational in eastern Ontario and southern Quebec later this year.

Once in place, NRCan says “more than 10 million people in the most earthquake-prone regions of the country will be able to receive EEW alerts.”

For decades now, British Columbians have been told to prepare for “the big one,” a devastating “superquake” along B.C.’s south coast. Research published in June suggested it could be even more dramatic than expected when it does eventually hit.

The information was put together from a 2021 ocean expedition that used sound waves to explore and map the 1,000-kilometre Cascadian subduction zone. That included a segment along Washington and southern Vancouver Island that caught the attention of seismologists like John Cassidy at NRCan.

“The research has shown various segments, which is important for improving our estimates of what we can expect during a future subduction earthquake, one of these big magnitude 9.0 quakes. We’ve known about it now for about 30 years and we can estimate the shaking, but now we’re getting into a lot more of the details,” Cassidy explained.

-With files from Mike Lloyd

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