Natural disasters in Vancouver, BC?

Question

I recently read a report in the news warning of a "catastrophic" earthquake being possible in Vancouver BC very soon. I've been researching Vancouver recently and am looking to move there to live from east coast US. This is the first time ive heard of earthquakes there. Are earthquakes frequent in Vancouver? Is there real danger for a "catastrophic" earthquake to occur? Does the Vancouver government have natural disaster readiness programs/education in effect? Is this something I should fear if looking into moving there in the next few years? (ie: reason why no one moves to 'Tornado Valley' or why people are wary of living in San Fran...??)

Answer 1

Faults run pretty much all along the Pacific coast of the North American continent and the entire area experiences earthquakes almost constantly, the vast majority are just too small to be felt by anyone.

I saw the same article...everything I've ever read about earthquake predictions comes with the disclaimer that there is as of yet no "reliable" way to predict an earthquake. The article mentioned that they are making the prediction in part because of a recent increase in activity along a fault that runs along the Vancouver coast line. One of the scientists that contributed to the report was quoted as saying something along the lines of "You have a risk of being in an accident every time you drive, and this risk goes up during rush hour. Vancouver is now driving in rush hour." Notice this does not guarantee the possibility of being in an accident...so I think the article was issued to give any kind of warning, just in case, since that would be much better than no warning at all.

Here is a link to a fault map:

http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/geolsurv/Surficial/quake/eq3.htm

If you scroll to the bottom of that page, there are links to more Canadian earthquake resources. I live between 3 major fault lines in southern California, one of them being the San Andreas, and people are constantly issuing "catastrophic" earthquake warnings and we haven't had one yet. That doesn't mean I think it won't/can't happen, and I've prepared myself/family as any reasonable person should. But I don't live in fear either. There are certain to be areas at higher risk for severe earthquakes/earthquake damage in Vancouver than others, perhaps you could avoid those. I believe the article said the fault in question was the Juan de Fuca fault, which looks to be off the western coast of Vancouver Island. Maybe you live on the eastern coast. :)

Every place has some kind of environmental issue...blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, monsoons, tornadoes, desert...earthquakes. It doesn't necessarily make the place un-livable.

Answer 2

Well, living in some places is a calculated risk, like driving a car on the freeway.
The western coast of North America is an active plate boundary. Written and instrumental records from the past 200 years show that there have been many moderate to large (Richter magnitude 6 to 7) earthquakes in southwestern British Columbia and in adjacent Washington state. There is now strong evidence that much larger (magnitude 8 to 9) earthquakes have occurred beneath the continental slope and shelf off the west coast in the more distant past. These “great” quakes originate on the 1000 km long thrust fault that separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates, in what is known as the Cascadia subduction zone.
Go here for background information on earthquakes in Canada: http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/zones/index_e.php

According to recent news accounts, scientists at the Pacific Geoscience Centre have observed that small tremors are occurring about every 14 months at the offshore plate boundary, adding stress to the locked part of the plate boundary and bringing it closer to triggering a major earthquake.
The most recent cluster of tremors started up on Jan 26, causing this news article on Sat. feb 3: Seismologists warned that a "catastrophic" earthquake could strike the southwestern coast of British Columbia soon, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070203/sc_afp/canadaquake_070203205115
But, by sunday feb 4-Seismologists at the Pacific Geoscience Centre in Sidney, B.C. said the latest episode of subterranean tremors on Vancouver Island than began Jan. 26 has ended about a week earlier than usual. ...heightened risk...weakened.http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070204/quake_risk_070204/20070204
Another round of tremors may start up around April 2008 if the pattern holds true.
For updates and current monitoring:
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php

Answer 3

With its mountain history and metropolitan beaches, Vancouver gets the rightly acquired reputation of being one of the very lovely cities in the world, with hotelbye you will have the opportunity to see this unique city. One of the places you need to see in Vancouver may be the Downtown Vancouver. Downtown Vancouver is wonderfully located on a peninsula in the Strait of Georgia bounded to the south by the delta of the Fraser River and to the north by a serious fiord achieving far inland. Here you can also see the usually snow-covered stages of the Coast Mountains. Stanley Park is one of the very visited parks. Is just a lavish Peninsula Park of big trees surrounding to Downtown Vancouver. A smooth seawall way encircles the green space, and most guests take some time to investigate on base or by bicycle. Inland, the park presents many things to do, and readers can spend a full time exploring attractions which range from the totem posts at Brockton Point to the west coast sea life at the Vancouver Aquarium. Magnificent views are a standard through the park.

Answer 4

Earthquake is a major event risk. It wil;l happen, but when is unknown. We could also get a tsunami, although Vancouver Island will take the brunt of it. Eruption of Mt Rainer is unlikely to cause major damage in Vancouver. Mt Baker is a bigger risk, but even it is 200 miles away. The most likely event would probably be a Pacific Typhoon, like Frieda in 1956?. That can cause major local damage, but is obviously survivable as a city.