Earthquakes on Vancouver Island

We live beside the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Most shaking is small, but a large quake is realistic here. Drop, Cover and Hold On, then expect to look after yourself for at least 72 hours.

🚨 What should I do right now?✅ Build a checklist

🚨 Happening now⏱️ About 8 min read🔎 Last reviewed 2026-07-31

🟠 What to do now

Most urgent first. You do not have to finish the list to be safer.

Drop to hands and knees, cover your head and neck, hold on until shaking stops.
In bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow.
In a wheelchair, lock the wheels, lean forward, protect your head.
Outdoors, move away from buildings, trees and power lines, then drop and cover.
Driving, pull over away from overpasses and lines, stay in the vehicle.
When it stops: shoes on, flashlight out, check for injuries and fire.
Only shut off gas if you smell or hear a leak — you'll need a technician to restore it.
Text, don't call. Expect aftershocks.

What this is

Vancouver Island sits above the Cascadia Subduction Zone and several shallow faults. Small quakes are frequent; a large one is possible in our lifetimes.
Most damage here would come from falling objects, older unreinforced buildings, broken water and gas lines, and landslides — not from the ground opening up, which does not happen.

Warning signs

Early warning signs

There is no reliable earthquake forecast — preparation is the only warning you get.

Serious warning signs

Small foreshocks
Alerts from the national early-warning system, which may give seconds only

Immediate danger signs

Shaking that lasts more than a few seconds
A roar or rumble before shaking
Water pulling back from the shore afterward

Where official alerts come from

Emergency Info BC
Earthquakes Canada
Emergency Management Cowichan
Local radio

Prepare ahead — by the time you have

I have 5 minutes

Put shoes and a flashlight beside your bed.
Move heavy items off shelves above beds and couches.

I have 1 hour

Fill and store water.
Write your out-of-area contact on paper.
Find your gas and water shutoffs.

I have 1 day

Strap the water tank and tall furniture where you're allowed to.
Build a 72-hour kit.
Practise Drop, Cover and Hold On once with everyone.

Long-term improvement

Build toward 7 days of water and food.
Learn how to safely turn off utilities.
Join or start a neighbourhood check-in list.

Supplies, in three levels

Start at Level 1. Everything here has a purpose and a cheaper alternative where one is safe.

Level 1 — Essentials

The minimum that makes you safer today.

Shoes and flashlight beside the bedWhy: Broken glass and darkness cause most post-quake injuries.Low-cost option: Old runners and a dollar-store LED.
WhistleWhy: Carries much further than your voice if you're trapped.Low-cost option: Under $3.
Water and no-cook food, 3 daysWhy: Water mains break first in a large quake.

Level 2 — Better prepared

Roughly 72 hours to seven days.

Work gloves and sturdy bootsWhy: Debris and glass during cleanup.
Fire extinguisher and CO alarmWhy: Post-quake fires are a leading cause of damage.
Crescent wrench for the gas shutoffWhy: Only used if you smell or hear a leak.

Level 3 — Extended resilience

Longer disruptions, built gradually.

Furniture straps and cabinet latchesWhy: Stops the falling objects that cause injuries.Low-cost option: Ask your landlord first; many allow removable straps.
Two weeks of water and foodWhy: Repairs to island infrastructure can take longer than the mainland.

Different living situations

No house, car, garage or credit card assumed.

House or apartment

You likely have the most storage. Keep supplies near an exit, not in a locked shed or a deep basement you may not be able to reach.

Single rented room

Think in one tote and one backpack. Under the bed and the back of a closet are your storage. Flat, stackable items beat bulky ones.

Shelter or supportive housing

Ask staff about the building's emergency plan, exits and medication storage. Keep a small personal pouch with ID copies, meds and phone charger on you.

Vehicle

Keep weight low and spread out. Water, warm layers, a light and a phone charger matter most. Never cook or run a heater inside a closed vehicle.

Tent or sleeping outside

Dry beats big. Prioritise waterproofing, warmth off the ground, a light, water and a whistle. Keep the essentials in one bag you can grab and carry.

Workplace or school

A small desk or locker kit — water, a snack, a light, comfortable shoes, meds and a contact card — covers most of what you'd need to get home.

Moving between places

Carry your plan on paper and in your phone. Copies of ID, a contact card and your medication list travel with you; bulk supplies stay with someone you trust.

Accessibility, health and medication

Mobility: keep supplies at waist height and in a bag you can pull or carry. Store a spare cane, walker part or wheelchair repair kit if you rely on one.
Vision: label items with large print or texture tape and keep a torch and spare glasses in a fixed, known spot.
Hearing: turn on text-based emergency alerts, keep a written note card of key needs, and ask someone to text you rather than call.
Cognitive: use a short one-page plan with pictures or few words. Practise the first three steps only.
Medication: keep a written list of names, doses and prescriber. Ask your pharmacy about an emergency supply.
Refrigerated medication: keep a small cooler and ice packs ready, know how long your medication stays usable warm, and ask your pharmacist to confirm.
Powered equipment (oxygen, CPAP, lifts): register with BC Hydro's medical program, keep a charged backup battery, and know the nearest place with power.
Service animals: pack water, food, and a copy of vaccination records; a service animal is allowed with you in reception centres.
Mental health: emergencies make everything louder. Slow down, use the grounding steps, and reach a crisis line at 988 or 1-888-494-3888.
Substance use: never use alone during a disruption. Carry naloxone, and check it hasn't expired.
Limited English or reading: use picture cards, keep translated key phrases, and ask an outreach worker to help write your plan.

Children, seniors and pets

Practise with children as a calm game, not a fear lesson. Teach the words 'drop, cover, hold on'.
Seniors and people with mobility needs: staying put and protecting the head is safer than trying to move.
Pets bolt — keep leashes and carriers near the door and a photo of you together for reunification.

🚫 Mistakes to avoid

Do not run outside during shaking.
Do not stand in a doorway — that advice is out of date.
Do not use flames or lighters afterward until you're sure there's no gas leak.
Do not shut off gas 'just in case' — only if you smell or hear it.
Do not re-enter a damaged building for belongings.

Recovery afterward

First hour

Account for everyone.
Treat injuries.
Get out of and stay out of damaged structures.

First day

Photograph damage before you clean.
Assume water is unsafe until officials say otherwise.
Check on neighbours who live alone.

First week

Contact insurance or your landlord in writing.
Replace medication and ID.
Expect aftershocks and keep the kit packed.

Longer recovery

Anchor what fell.
Restock.
Talk to someone — delayed stress after a quake is extremely common.

☎️ Numbers worth writing down

Fire, police, ambulance: 911 — Life-threatening emergency, fire, or someone not breathing.
HealthLink BC: 811 — Free 24/7 nurse advice when you're not sure it's a 911 situation.
Poison control (BC): 1-800-567-8911 — Swallowed, breathed in, or spilled anything harmful.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: 988 — Call or text, 24/7, anywhere in Canada.
Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888 — 24/7 local mental-health and emotional support.
BC Hydro outages: 1-888-769-3766 — Report an outage or a downed line (stay 10 m back).
Emergency Info BC: EmergencyInfoBC.gov.bc.ca — Current evacuation alerts and orders.

Personal notes: ______________________________________________

Date last checked: ____________________

Key takeaways

Drop, Cover and Hold On — do not run outside during shaking.
Shoes and a flashlight beside the bed prevent most injuries afterward.
If you are near the shore and shaking is long or violent, move uphill or inland as soon as it stops — do not wait for an alert.

Step-by-step

During shaking. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or against an interior wall, and hold on until the shaking stops. In bed, stay there and cover your head with a pillow.
In a wheelchair or with limited mobility. Lock the wheels, lean forward and cover your head and neck with your arms or a cushion. Staying put is safer than trying to transfer.
Right after. Put on shoes. Check yourself and others for injuries. Smell for gas, look for fire, and only shut off gas if you smell or hear a leak.
Expect aftershocks. Aftershocks can be strong and can bring down already-damaged walls, chimneys and shelves. Get out of a badly damaged building and stay out.
Communicate by text. Text uses far less network capacity than a call. Check in with your out-of-area contact, then stop using the network so emergency traffic can move.

✅ Printable checklist

Shoes, flashlight and whistle beside the bed
Heavy furniture and water tank strapped where possible
Nothing heavy hung over beds or couches
72 hours of water and no-cook food
Out-of-area contact number written on paper
Know where the gas and water shutoffs are