4.8 Earthquake Near Victoria, BC Leaves Seattle Shaking

VICTORIA - A  4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Victoria, BC on December 29 just before midnight, the US Geological Survey said.

Although the epicenter was about 19 kilometres northeast of Victoria, tremors were felt as far away as Seattle, WA in the United States, according to RT.com. 

The good news is that no injuries were reported and a tsunami warning has not been issued either, CBC reported. Vancouver shut down its SkyTrain Expo, M-line due to the earthquake and authorities stated they will reopen once everything has been deemed safe. Vancouver's mayor also reported that there was no major damage in the city and there were no power outages either. 

According to an auditor general's report from 2014, British Columbia is not prepared for a major earthquake -- experts have said that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 or higher could be catastrophic and result in as many as 10,000 deaths, the Vancouver Observer has previously reported. 

The last major earthquake to hit the area was on Vancouver Island in 1946 in which a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck just after 10 p.m. on June 23. The epicenter was northwest of Courtenay in the Forbidden Plateau area and shaking was felt from Portland, Oregon to Prince Rupert, BC. It's remembered as one of the most damaging earthquakes in the history of the province, but damage was minimal due to the fact that epicenter was not heavily populated. 

Staying safe during an earthquake
When it comes to preparing for an earthquake it's important to focus on a few key things. 

• Protect the vulnerable areas of your home. Focus on foundations, ceilings and repair any deep cracks to prevent them from worsening during an earthquake.
• During the earthquake the safest place to go will be somewhere you can take cover. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RUN OUTSIDE. If you are already outside when an earthquake hits, run to an open space where debris cannot reach you away from power lines. If you are in the car, do not drive over or under bridges or through tunnels. 
• When the earthquake is over take stock of your location and the well-being of you and your family. Administer first-aid if necessary and call 911 if there are serious injuries. 

Make an emergency kit

As a safeguard, you should always make your own emergency kit, keep it stocked and know where it is so you can access it quickly during an emergency situation. It doesn't matter if it's an earthquake, a hurricane or the apocalypse - it should contain the following basic items: 

• First aid kit
• Emergency lights - flashlights, candles, matches, etc. 
• Emergency water and non-perishable food
• Batteries and a radio
• Food and supplies for your pet

You should rotate the supplies and check them from time to time and customise the emergency kit accordingly to your own needs and that of your family.