9.0 earthquake

why does everyone think there's going to be a big 9.0 earthquake??

 

Beats me but the rumour started a few days ago and "tomorrow" keeps changing. The only sources I could find were people panicking on tumblr and twitter.

 

I've been hearing about a giant earth quake hitting Vancouver for years. I think last year it was reported as an april fools joke?

 

Giant earthquake's coming eventually, the uncertainty is whether or not it'll happen within our lifetime.

 

Thread about the japanese earthquake: http://www.forumvancouver.com/threads/8-9-earthquake-hits-japan.930/

 

I was surprised to see so few responses regarding the recent seismic activity worldwide. In fact, I was happy to see that there isn't so much buzz and panic being spread around, which leads me to think that maybe my fear really is somewhat irrational.

I have always been horrified by the thought of an earthquake happening anywhere, especially in Vancouver. I know there has been talk of it ever since I moved here in 2001. I am also aware of the great Cascadia subduction zone and the massive earthquake that last occurred in 1700, expected to reocurr in 300-600 years after this last event. Some say we're overdue, while also claiming that it could happen now or hundreds of years from now.

With the numerous earthquakes happening recently (Haiti, Chile, New Zeland, Japan), I can't help but fear that this is closer than we think. I have become so restless regarding this matter ever since the Japanese disaster last week and even more so once I read and research Jim Berkland's prediction. My family and friends tell me that I'm crazy and that I can't go on living life this way. While I don't believe in the prediction 100%, I do fear that he is on to something, somewhere on the West coast, some time in the near future...

I was just wondering how the others are coping with this fear and the possibility of a "big one" striking near Vancouver. I am consumed by this fear lately to the point where I can't sleep or think straight and I feel exhausted both mentally and physically. I do have an emergency preparedness kit ready but I'm so scared that I'm seriously considering relocating. At the same time, I'd feel stupid doing that since I love this city and consider it home for many reasons. The main reason why I'm so terrified is that I have a small child and I fear not being able to protect him and myself at the same time. I have never felt an earthquake and losing ground (literally) makes me worry to no end. Please help me understand how the rest of you are coping with the recent disasters. I'm so freaked out to the point where I'm avoiding malls, I don't park the car in the underground garage, and I'm constantly, CONSTANTLY thinking about this.

Let's hope this doesn't happen and if it does, that it's not close to us.

 

I think people either:

• Pretend it's not an issue and avoid thinking about it
• Acknowledge the situation and make preparations in order to minimize risks

The important thing is not to let your anxiety and fears jeopardize your quality of life. Otherwise, what's the sake in living here?

It's important to note that just because you choose to remain in BC, it doesn't mean that things are hopeless. There are things you can do to prepare and potentially minimize danger. Identify household hazards, check if your building/house is up to code, check what kind of sediment the building is on, etc. I know that I definitely feel safer in Vancouver than in Richmond (then again I live in an old house that would probably collapse ). It's good to hear that you have an emergency preparedness kit, I doubt many people do. From my own unscientific observation, Vancouverites seemed much more conscious about disaster preparation in the past. The "big one" seemed to fade away from the public eye in recent years (until the events in Japan that is).

It's human nature to skirt the issue altogether and think it won't happen to us, that's why that attitude is so common. At the same time, I think a lot of people feel the same way you do. The risk of an earthquake in BC is very real, so it's not completely irrational to consider relocating. Earthquake prediction is akin to trying to time the stock market. There are a lot of people out there that claim they can do it. Sometimes they get lucky and some even seem to do it more accurately than others. However, in the end, it's just a whole lot of guessing. Our science and technology is in its infancy with regards to quake prediction and it certainly isn't at a level where we can do it reliably. Ultimately, you have to weigh what's important to you. Do you value living here more or do you value peace of mind? In the case that you do decide to move, what would you have to give up? It's different from person to person.

Taking note of what's happening in Japan and how much more prepared they are than we are, I hope BC residents get their butt into gear in terms of preparation. Maybe there should be pre-determined community shelters, neighbourhood emergency planning committees, etc. I know those things sound lame now, but when shit hits the fan, those things are invaluable and could most definitely save lives.

Cliff notes:
1. You're not alone in thinking like that.
2. It's not dumb to think about moving, especially when you have anxiety and fears that are affecting your life.
3. Maybe think about things you can do here (minimize household hazards, move to a safer region in Metro Vancouver, safer building, etc).
4. Preparation is often neglected, but is absolutely essential for those living here.

 

Yeah, I've been worried about this as well. I have two babies, (twins) and don't know what I'd do if a big one hit. Though, to be scientific, there would be at least one small tremor before the big one. Our plan is this:

Make an emergency kit, and keep it in our car. If there is ever a small tremor, pack up the car and head east, getting as far away as possible. (Heading for Calgary, hopefully, as we have family there.)

I agree with cheeseshredder though - if it's making it too difficult for you to live life normally, maybe you should think about moving, if not just to improve your everyday quality of life for you and your baby. If you can't move, then take every precaution!

 

Let's be thankfull as hell that we don't have to rely on nuclear power and that we have enough room to relocate if need be. I have friends and family in Japan and although they all live far away from affected areas, I've been borderline depressed after seeing footage of the destruction, hearing reports that victims of the earthquake/tsunami & rescue workers still aren't getting enough food or healthcare (because of the ongoing nuclear crisis) and hearing that a possible 20,000 have lost their lives.

Personally, I dealt with this by doing all that I can for the victims by donating as much as I could and discussing earthquake preparedness thoroughly with my family. By using this opportunity to learn from this disaster and doing everything possible to prepare for "the big one", this tragedy will have meant something. Most store-bought emergency kits contain just the bare minimum. In addition, we need:
-non-perishable foods & water (5 litres/day) for each member of the family to last for several days (because rescue workers might not be able to help sooner)+food for pets. these need to be replaced every couple of years according to expiry dates.
-rewindable radio & flashlights. several sets of batteries for non-rewindable ones (these also need to be checked on for acid leaks due to aging).
-extra sets of any medication your family members take on a regular basis.
-a personal safety alarm device, loud whistle or anything else to alert people outside should you be stuck in rubble and too weak to call for help.
-a water filtration device or pills that disinfect water.
-one of those plastic collapsible water tanks.
-matches or a lighter to provide a heat source.
-blankets.
-rain ponchos and/or a tarp to keep dry.
-one of those pen-like devices that breaks open glass windows with little effort.
-a duffle bag and area that is easily accessible to store the above goods.
-knowledge of first-aid.
-a plan for a meeting place just outside your home and also in your neighbourhood, should you and your family be in different areas.
-a plan for the sturdiest area in your home/in public buildings to run to (usually compact rooms [they have sturdy frames that stand up to collapse of structures] with easy access to outdoors or door frames [usually the strongest area of a building]).
-a knowledge of any gas valve shutoffs in your home to prevent post earthquake fires/explosions. if at all possible, it would also help to have access to the water in your toilet tank or have a reservoir of water in your bathtub, since public water mains will be susceptible to breakage.

All of this is off the top of my head (from data in newspaper articles & stories from earthquake survivors that I've read). Doing all of the above might border on paranoia, but at least you'll be absolutely positive that you did everything humanly possible to prepare.

Lastly, the reality is that despite doing all of this, you or your loved ones might simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Life is really delicate and unpredictable in nature and doing all of the right things doesn't necessarily prevent accidents. If s*it happens despite all the worrying and preperation in the world, you might as well enjoy life. Remember that worrying and avoiding excessively takes away from enjoying your life. Make sure you loved ones know just how much they're loved. Don't shortchange yourself, so that you have no regrets should any tragedy occur.

 

Another observation: If you live in any area close to sea level, you should consider moving to a residence on a hill. I've heard of victims of Hurricane Katrina drowning in their own homes because the water level rose and they couldn't escape.

If there are any circumstances that you can control beforehand, you should act on it. Otherwise, it's pointless to worry about stuff you have no control over.

 

Very comprehensive, some items I never would have thought of. Thanks for the helpful post.

On the topic of earthquakes, what does everyone think about the "Triangle of Life" method vs "Drop, Cover and Hold On"? From my very brief research, it seems that the triangle of life works better in cases of building collapse, otherwise it's better to get under a desk.

 

^WTF

 

^Posted in the wrong thread .

 

I forget which thread I was posting in, I think it was the KI one lol

 

WOW your a fucking idiot, get a grip on yourself and start taking your meds again. People like you are the reason why this world is such a fucking mess! A bunch of headless chickens running around worrying about everything to the point that you sign all your freedoms away because your so god fucking dam insecure! If you can't even go about daily life because your worried about an earthquake then your obviously more of danger to your child than a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, go talk to child protective services asap!

 

The birds outside my window are going nuts. Scary.

 

Who pissed in your Corn Flakes? People like you are the reason why humanity is such an embarrassment.

 

You should move to higher ground because a tsunami might hit.