British Columbia, Canada is home to some of the most livable cities in the world. Unfortunately, due to its characteristically hot, dry summers and proximity to the Cascadia subduction zone, BC has had its fair share of brushes with disaster. Forest fires, earthquakes, snowstorms and landslides have all struck British Columbia at one time or another. The following is an historical overview of some of the province’s most memorable incidents of the last few centuries.
Earthquakes
The strongest earthquake in Canadian history hit in the 18th Century, just off of Vancouver Island in British Columbia’s Cascadia subduction zone. This earthquake measured 9.1 on the Richter scale, and caused a tsunami so large that it impacted the coast of Japan.
The most severe earthquake of the last century hit British Columbia in 1949. With a magnitude of 8.1 on the Richter scale, it was even larger than the monster quake that famously rocked San Francisco in 1906. The epicenter of this massive earthquake was located along the Queen Charlotte fault just off of the Queen Charlotte Islands where the Pacific and North American plates meet.
Blizzards & Hail Storms
While British Columbia is usually thought of as a fairly temperate province, history shows that the province has experienced several major cold weather disasters. In August, 1994, Salmon Arm, B.C. was the victim of a massive hailstorm that caused over $11 million in damages. A similar hailstorm destroyed 40 of the fruit crops in the Okanagan Valley in 1997, costing the province upwards of $100 million.
In December, 1996, Southwestern British Columbia experienced a record snowfall that cost an estimated $214 million dollars. Roads were closed and some residents were trapped in their homes by the gargantuan drifts.
Landslides and Avalanches
Because of the development and urbanization of the West Coast’s mountainous terrain, landslides and avalanches are an all too common problem in British Columbia. Since 1965, more than 60 fatalities have occurred as the combined result of these two natural phenomena in B.C. Most recently, a landslide in North Vancouver destroyed three homes, causing residents of the area to be evacuated and several homes to be deemed unsafe for occupation.
The most deadly avalanche to hit British Columbia in recent decades struck the Granduc mining camp in 1971. 26 people were killed and the mine and surrounding town were permanently shut down for the safety of everyone involved.
Summer Forest Fire Season
The hot, dry summers of Southern B.C are great for tourism, but they also make these regions exceptionally vulnerable to forest fires during the summer months. Forest fires spread quickly and are difficult to contain, and because of this they comprise some of B.C’s most costly emergencies.
In August, 2003, 50,000 people were evacuated from their homes in South Central British Columbia due to rampaging fires. Five years earlier, in 1998, 10,000 people were evacuated from areas surrounding Salmon Arm. Forest fires have become an almost yearly danger in British Columbia, and residents are encouraged to be suitably prepared should disaster strike.
Author Resource:
Scott Mitchell is a fire and life safety expert at WPS Disaster Management Solutions. WPS is an industry leader in disaster training and fire safety planning in Vancouver, BC Canada. Please visit our website at http://www.wps-plan.com
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