Earthquake Safety
The threat of earthquakes occurring in British Columbia is real. Earthquakes are part of our daily lives in Canada; we experience thousands of minor earthquakes annually.
During an earthquake, the emergency services you depend on such as fire, police and medical may be unavailable for extended periods of time. Everyone should be prepared to be self-sufficient for one to two weeks, and preparing a complete earthquake plan will help keep personal injury, damage and discomfort to a minimum. Learn more about emergency preparedness by visiting the other links we have provided.
Dealing with fire and explosions in underground electrical vaults
In high-density city areas and many residential subdivisions, electrical distribution wires are in cable tunnels below the pavement. Manholes give access to transformers and switchgear located in concrete vaults. Underground systems are designed to withstand enormous stress but earth movement can crack tunnels plus nearby sewers, gas pipes and water mains. This can produce a hazardous mixture of explosive and toxic gases plus dangerously high-water levels. If cables fail under these conditions, they can produce explosions or fire that damage insulation and energizes all the metal inside the vault. In an earthquake, if you see a smoking manhole: call BC Hydro immediately with the location and number of manholes involved. Do not open the manhole for any reason. Keep everyone well clear of a manhole that has blown open in an explosion.
