Earthquake Early Warning - Blog

Over the past week, NRCan’s earthquake seismologist Alison Bird and seismic network operations manager Lisa Nykolaishen travelled to Haida Gwaii. They visited the archipelago’s communities, briefing Masset Village Council and Skidegate Band Council on the Earthquake Early Warning system; giving presentations to the communities of Old Massett / Masset, Port Clements, Skidegate / Daajing Giids, and Sandspit; and meeting with the islands’ Emergency Managers and Planners.

Alison and Lisa also enjoyed a morning with the students of Agnes L Mathers Elementary School in Sandspit, where one of the School Shake project’s Raspberry Shake sensors is located. The students showed off their knowledge of the region’s earthquakes, and grilled Alison and Lisa on various aspects of geophysics.

An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7 struck the Charlevoix region the evening of 5th February 1663. Records suggest it was felt throughout eastern North America. Damage was mostly to chimneys and to a few masonry walls and homes in Quebec and New England.

Earthquakes often result in secondary hazards. For example, numerous landslides and rock falls were reported along the St. Lawrence River, Saguenay River, Gouffre River, and St. Maurice valley. Landslides would have been especially likely if the earthquake followed a period of heavy rainfall in the region; while this is suspected, it has not been proven.

Were a similar earthquake to occur in this region once the EEW system is operational, Quebec City would have approximately 25 seconds of warning, Trois Rivieres ~55s, Fredericton ~80s, and Montreal ~90s. This would give ample time for protective actions to be taken by critical infrastructure facilities and people.

As noted in an earlier blogpost, a public survey was distributed last year, in anticipation of the launch of the Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system. The survey was designed to gain an understanding of the public’s awareness of earthquakes, preparedness measures they had taken, and their anticipated response to EEW. Additionally, they were asked about earthquakes they had experienced.

Last summer, University of British Columbia co-op student Samantha Solis de Ovando worked with NRCan’s Alison Bird to analyse the results of this survey, which included creating maps to show geographic distribution of people’s responses and evaluations based on demographics.

The study revealed that awareness of and preparedness for earthquakes is higher in the western EEW region (western British Columbia) than the eastern region (eastern Ontario and southern Quebec). In the west, the levels of awareness and preparedness are generally correlated to the level of seismic hazard. Samantha’s study revealed that Greater Vancouver is an exception, however, with lower levels of awareness and preparedness than the surrounding region, suggesting further public education initiatives are required to improve earthquake readiness. In the east, awareness and preparedness is highest in urban areas, whereas the levels are relatively low in rural areas of the provinces, indicating rural and remote communities might be targets of public education efforts.

Across both EEW regions, demographic analysis revealed that people tend to be more aware and prepared with age, but less likely to perform the earthquake protocol of Drop, Cover and Hold on. This response has been promoted in schools, since 2012 through ShakeOutBC and since 2013 through Grande Secousse. Those up to age of 30 are more likely to Drop, Cover and Hold On, suggesting school-based initiatives have been successful.

The survey analysis provides context around Canada’s readiness for earthquakes and EEW, and can guide public education initiatives and emergency management strategies to cultivate a culture of awareness within the seismically hazardous regions of BC, Ontario, and Quebec.

On Thursday, 17th October, over 825,000 people in Canada signed up to practise the Drop, Cover, Hold on response for earthquakes. They are therefore more likely to protect themselves when they receive an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) or feel shaking.

In British Columbia, the ShakeOutBC earthquake drill was hosted by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) and conducted in VFPA’s operations centre, by staff and visitors. Additionally, the adjacent Vancouver Convention Centre plaza held a public Emergency Preparedness Fair; NRCan’s Alison Bird, Tiegan Hobbs, and Riddhi Dave, along with visiting scientist Fiona Darbyshire, hosted a booth to showcase the new national Earthquake Early Warning System and earthquake research. Also on site was the popular Quake Cottage earthquake simulator, providing people with the opportunity to experience shaking from a strong (magnitude 8) earthquake, safely.

The associated media event began with a welcome by BC Earthquake Alliance President, Naomi Yamamoto, a welcome song by Alec Dan, from the Musqueam Nation, and speeches by dignitaries. Greg Moy, Insurance Bureau of Canada, spoke about the need for people and businesses to prepare for the earthquakes which would inevitably affect the province. Duncan Webb, VFPA, described the volume and diversity of goods and traffic through the port, and VFPA’s efforts to facilitate and prioritize emergency response in the region. And, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, outlined the earthquake mitigation measures being undertaken by the city and encouraged people to be prepared. Finally, Alison Bird answered questions about the region’s earthquakes and EEW.

Numerous Shakeout drills were held in schools throughout Quebec, and informational segments were given by NRCan’s Chris Boucher, on radio and television stations (in Ontario and Quebec) throughout the day.

The preceding weeks showcased a brand new GrandeSecousse website, hosted by the Association des gestionnaires en sécurité incendie et civile du Québec (AGSICQ; in French only). Boucher and paleoseismologist Aube Gourdeau also delivered presentations on the importance of the GrandeSecousse/ShakeOut earthquake drill, and the upcoming EEW system soon to be launched in Quebec and eastern Ontario. They spoke to public safety coordinators, emergency planners and other people working in emergency preparedness at a seismic risk training session in Beaupré, as well as at the annual “Colloque sur la sécurité civile” held in Québec City.

In the Yukon, the Yukon Government promoted personal protection on their various social media channels, and their Health and Social Services department conducted internal refresher awareness on earthquakes.

Saturday, 5th was International Geodiversity Day (IGD), promoting learning about everything that makes and shapes the Earth. Several NRCan scientists joined geophysical associates from other organisations, such as the British Columbia Geological Survey, the University of Victoria, and Dino Lab, to share their science with the public at an IGD event hosted by the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. NRCan's booths provided information and discussion on sedimentology, geology (with rock identification), tectonics, and earthquakes.

This was an ideal opportunity for NRCan's Alison Bird to speak with people about the newly launched Earthquake Early Warning system. Alison also delivered a presentation on the region's earthquakes and the EEW system, including how people will be alerted and how they should respond.

On September 15th, the national Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system sent its first alert to the public, when a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurred just south of Haida Gwaii. The EEW system determined that strong shaking would occur in the southern region of Haida Gwaii's Moresby Island, so sent an EEW message to the National Public Alerting System (NPAS).

NPAS distributed radio and television alerts throughout the area's census division, which includes the town of Sandspit; people in Sandspit told NRCan's Field Researcher, Lisa Nykolaishen, they had received the alert a few seconds before they felt shaking. NPAS is also configured to alert via cell phone towers within the area of strong shaking; in this case, however, there were no cell towers in that remote (and generally unpopulated) area of the island.

Today the national Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system was launched in British Columbia. Almost 100 core EEW stations are working together to monitor and alert for powerful earthquakes in the province, providing seconds to tens-of-seconds of warning before the arrival of strong shaking. People will be alerted through the National Public Alerting System, via smart-’sphone, radio, and television; this is fully automatic and requires no registration nor app. Critical infrastructure operators and other Technical Partners of the EEW system will soon be able to trigger automated technologies at their facilities, for example, to open doors, close valves, stop trains, and sound alarms.

To mark the occasion, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, held a media event at North Vancouver Fire Hall No.1. The Minister noted how this initiative complements other efforts the federal government makes towards disaster risk reduction, such as research which informs the seismic provisions within the National Building Code, and that when people receive an EEW, they should assume strong shaking is imminent and protect themselves through the Drop, Cover, Hold on response. Also in attendance were Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, who spoke of the importance of such a system to help reduce the impacts from powerful earthquakes which are inevitable in the province, and BC’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn Ma, who spoke about how even a few seconds’s warning can trigger automated systems to reduce damage and injuries.

Earthquake Early Warning was profiled in an exhibit and a presentation by Alison Bird, at an open house last week. People took in scientific exhibits and demonstrations, presentations, children's activities, and tours of the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, Sir Wilfred Grenfell. Other topics included geophysical monitoring and research activities, ocean chemistry and biology, tidal currents, and marine charts.

Natural Resources Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans held the Open House at their Institute of Ocean Sciences / Pacific Geoscience Centre on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Starting with two days of visits by middle and high school students, the institute opened its doors to the public on Saturday. Over 1,800 people visited the campus that day.

British Columbia’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) has started an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) advertising campaign, to alert people of the impending launch of the national EEW system in the province.

EMCR is also incorporating information on EEW into their public education materials and outreach activities, included within the popular Earthquake and Tsunami Guide. This work, funded by Natural Resources Canada, will improve awareness around earthquakes and EEW in BC, encouraging people to take protective actions when they receive an alert.