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Did you feel it? Early this morning there was a 4.5 magnitude earthquake just off the San Juans this morning around 5 a.m. Many reported feeling the earthquake from Bellingham to Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.  - making this is a great time to revisit our earthquake preparedness.

Before an Earthquake: Preparedness Tips

• Encourage your family, friends and co-workers to practice DROP, COVER and HOLD ON or LOCK, COVER and HOLD ON (for wheelchair or walker users) drills at home and at work.
• Create a family and a workplace emergency plan that includes how you will contact or reconnect with you if separated. Make sure that there is also an out-of-state contact too. .
• Remind your family, friends and co-workers to be prepared by knowing their evacuation routes.
• Make a disaster supply kit that includes enough food, water and medications that could last for at least 10 days. .
• Secure televisions, monitors, bookcases, or other items that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable items on low shelves.
• Sign up for early warning and earthquake communication resources. Find more information on .
• Download Western’s safety app and be familiar with Western’s status page.
• Inspect the inside and outside of your home, dwelling or property for items that could be damaged or fall and cause injury. Secure these identified items with braces, bolts, straps, and other materials available at disaster preparedness outlets.
• Get involved – enroll in First Aid, CPR and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings in your community. .
• If you own a home, consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover earthquake damage.

Brought to you by the Office of Emergency Management & Business Continuity via Western's Risk, Ethics, Safety, & Resilience Department.