Every Tuesday, we publish a photo to show Red Cross at work across the country or around the world. Do you have a photo to share? Let us know!
Staff in BC were shaking it, but not really twisting or shouting, during the Great BC ShakeOut last month. At exactly 10:20am, 45 Red Crossers in the Burnaby office dropped to the floor, took cover, and held onto that cover for 60 seconds in order to practice responding to a real earthquake situation. They joined 500,000 fellow British Columbians taking part in the mass drill, as well as thousands more holding sister drills in California, Idaho, Nevada, Guam and the Yukon. The Canadian Red Cross has been engaged in this project since its inception nearly four years ago.
BC is one of the most seismically active areas in the world, with over 1,200 earthquakes occurring per year. Although most of these earthquakes have been small or have taken place in remote areas, BC residents know the risk of a significant earthquake is real.
As a disaster response organization, Red Crossers practice what they preach. That's why encouraging staff and volunteers to "Drop, Cover and Hold On" helps ensure that everyone has the tools and knowledge they need to stay safe should the "big one" occur at work. Would you know what to do in an earthquake situation? Take the time, and find out.
Local staffer Amrit Dhatt knows how to drop, cover and hold on.