On Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10:16 a.m., British Columbians across the province will take part in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut, a provincewide earthquake drill aimed at helping people prepare for seismic emergencies.
Now in its 16th year, ShakeOut BC encourages people to practise the lifesaving steps of “drop, cover, and hold on.” Over 700,000 people have already registered to participate, including individuals, families, schools, and businesses.
B.C. is the most seismically active region in Canada, with around 4,000 earthquakes recorded annually. While most are too small to feel, experts say a large, damaging quake could strike without warning.
To better prepare, the province has partnered with the federal government to implement an Earthquake Early Warning system, now fully operational. The system uses sensors to detect earthquakes and sends alerts to mobile phones, television, and radio via the National Public Alerting System, giving people valuable seconds to act.
The Province has also invested in seismic retrofits for schools, bridges, and buildings, and recently updated the BC Building Code to strengthen seismic design standards.
This year’s ShakeOut theme is: “If you are prepared for earthquakes, you are prepared for nearly anything.” ShakeOut Week runs October 13–18, with events and resources available to help communities get ready.
To register or learn more, visit: www.shakeoutbc.ca
Comments