British Columbians Aren't Ready for the Next Big One

BC ShakeOut and IBC join forces to help Increase Earthquake Preparedness

VANCOUVER, Oct. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Despite the high level concern about an earthquake and the belief that a strong one will hit in the next half century, the majority of British Columbians remain ill-prepared for an emergency, an Angus Reid Public Opinion poll conducted in partnership with BC ShakeOut has found.

In the online survey of 800 randomly selected British Columbian adults, 61%revealed they are concerned about being personally affected by an earthquake. Additionally, 87% think it is likely that an earthquake strong enough to damage buildings will in occur in BC in the next 50 years.

Despite the unease British Columbians feel about earthquakes, 60% acknowledge that they do not have an emergency kit with supplies in case of emergency and 70% have not prepared an emergency plan.

These polling results emphasize the urgency of increasing earthquake preparedness amongst British Columbians. The BC ShakeOut and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) are working collaboratively with all levels of government in preparing Canada for a major earthquake. Part of that commitment is through the annual BC ShakeOut taking place this year on October 18 at 10:18am.

"If you feel an earthquake, you should follow the internationally recognized Drop, Cover and Hold On protocol when an earthquake hits, "says Emily Dicken, BC ShakeOut Organizing Committee Co-Chair.     "By practicing this response and participating in the annual BC ShakeOut drill, you can help minimize injuries and damage when an earthquake happens," adds Dicken.

"IBC is committed to preparing Canadians for the potential of an earthquake. The annual BC ShakeOut is a great opportunity to increase public safety and better prepare British Columbians to know what to do when the inevitable hits," says Lindsay Olson, Vice President, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with IBC.

"The risk of a catastrophic earthquake for parts of coastal BC is one that is very real," says Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Shirley Bond. "The critical first step to ensuring your personal safety and that of your family is to practice the life-saving drill of 'drop, cover and hold-on.' But preparation must extend beyond just being ready to survive the initial quake. What will sustain you and your family in the hours and days following is being prepared with a family emergency plan and an emergency kit. ShakeOut BC serves as an important catalyst to remind British Columbians to practice and prepare for what could be a serious earthquake."

You can register for The Great British Columbia ShakeOut 2012 at www.shakeoutbc.ca. Participation gives you assurance that you, your family, your co-workers and millions of others will be better prepared to survive and recover quickly from the next big earthquake.

For more info on IBC and The Great British Columbia ShakeOut 2012 visit ibc.ca.

About ShakeOut
Great ShakeOut earthquake drills help people in homes, schools, and organizations practice how to be safe during big earthquakes, and provide an opportunity for everyone to improve their overall preparedness. By participating, you can have assurance that you, your family, your co-workers and millions of others will be better prepared to survive and recover quickly from the next big earthquake in your region. As of today, there are over 14.6 million people that have been registered to participate in ShakeOut drills in 2012, including over 10 million people, on October 18th.

About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 114,000 Canadians, pays more than $7 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $40 billion.

To view media releases and information, visit the media section of IBC's website at www.ibc.ca and for IBC on Twitter follow @insurancebureau.

About Angus Reid Public Opinion
Angus Reid Public Opinion is a public affairs practice headed by Dr. Angus Reid: an industry visionary who has spent more than four decades asking questions to figure out what people feel, how they think and who they will vote for. A team of talented and experienced practitioners with a unique and profound understanding of global issues conduct high quality research throughout the world on a daily basis for corporations, governments, academic researchers, and non-profit organizations.

About Vision Critical®
Vision Critical is a global research and technology firm that creates software and services solutions for over 600 clients, including one third of the world's top 100 brands. The company has offices across North America, Europe and Australia as well as a Global Partner Program that provides other research companies and consultants with access to top-of-the-line technology. Its Sparq™ product is the most widely adopted community panel platform on the planet.

SOURCE: INSURANCE BUREAU OF CANADA

or to schedule an interview, contact:

Helen Lialias 
Media Relations Officer
Insurance Bureau of Canada
416-362-2031 ext. 4312
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