Two earthquakes struck the
British Columbia area early this morning. A level 6.2 earthquake struck Yukon, Alaska, and northern B.C. around 5:30 AM. Residents reported that during the 30 seconds they felt the quake, they fell out of bed, and dishes fell off shelves. Roughly two hours after the first quake hit, an earthquake measuring at a magnitude of 6.3 struck.
Federal Public Safety is monitoring the situation closely, and emergency response is on standby. Elija Smith Elementary School is the only school in the
Yukon area closed for further inspection.
Earthquakes are nothing new to Canadians as they live in an earthquake-prone area. The best way to prepare for an earthquake is to practice what to do if one were to occur! If you have dealt with picking up and repairing your belongings after the earthquake, chances are you don’t want to have to go through that again.
Find higher ground
For items such as pictures, albums, and other items of sentimental value, move them to higher ground, like shelves, in case of flooding, so they don’t get damaged.
Anchor your breakable items
If you have anything in your house of value that is
fragile, try anchoring them down to protect them from breaking. Not only does this ensure the items safety, it’ll make it less hazardous for your family to move around after the quake. Valuables that live on your shelves can be anchored down with Museum Wax, a putty-like substance that is placed at the bottom of your glass, china, or any other fragile item.
Strap down your furniture
Items that are at risk of toppling over should be strapped down to avoid damage as well as harm.
Insurance
If you are in an area prone to earthquakes, you may already have insurance, but if you don’t, it is important that you get it ASAP. Even people who don’t live in earthquake prone areas should get coverage in the off chance that one occurs. We are never certain when, where, and how hard a quake will hit, so it is better to be safe than sorry!
Paperwork
If you have papers and files of value in your home, make sure you have copies that are printed from a laser printer on acid-free buffered paper to extend the life of your documents. It is also good to have electronic copies, whether it be on a USB or your computer.