No damage was reported after a series of five earthquakes shook the seabed off the northern tip of Vancouver Island on Friday.
The first earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.1, occurred at 7:49 a.m. at a depth of 10 kilometres about 150 kilometres west of Port Hardy.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded four others, ranging from magnitude-4.1 to magnitude-5.7, throughout the day.
There was no threat of a tsunami.
“We get events of magnitude-5 probably at least once a year, offshore, and in that area, so it’s not that unusual,” said seismologist Taimi Mulder, a scientist at the Geological Survey of Canada.
“I would have people use it as a reminder to practise their earthquake drills, to check their home and make sure there are fresh batteries and a flashlight handy and a radio.”
Mulder recommends visiting the Emergency Management B.C. website for information on preparing for emergencies.
Emergency survival kits with food and water, tarps and blankets should be in an easily accessible area. “Pretend you had to leave your house and you couldn’t get back in,” Mulder advised.
Falling objects including books, pottery and paintings are the biggest hazard in people’s homes, she said. “You need to earthquake-proof your home so if you get shaken, nothing dangerous is going to fall over.”
The City of Victoria is offering free workshops on how to prepare. People should have enough food, water and supplies to last for at least seven days without outside assistance.
The workshops are being held in the antechamber at Victoria City Hall 1-3 p.m. Tuesday and 7-9 p.m. Jan. 25.
Register by emailing [email protected] or calling 250-920-3373. For more information, go to VictoriaReady.ca.
