= = 32~ Wednesday, February 22, Being POST-EARTHQUAKE — LOS Angeles in January 1994 was not a welcoming sight, North and West Vancouver Emergency Program coordinator Ross Peterson said. Damage to buildings faced Peterson as soon as he stepped off his flight from Vancouver five days after the earthquake hit. Roads were rutted with gaping holes and concrete overpasses had * fallen to the ground. Distressed people, who could not EMERGENCY | aa WORKBOOK YOUR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVAL GUIDE by Teeel - Available at: © BCAA. © Garnier Hardware © Pearson's Hardware ® Save-On-Foods For more information contact: 1995 - North Shore News re-enter their damaged homes, still remained on the street and in the parks, often sleeping in tents, Getting essential supplies such as water and food to these people had been an arduous undertaking. “Some still did not know when help was coming,"said Peterson. Government agencies searched for places for the dispossessed to stay, Fortunately, said Peterson, homes were found for many in IPREPARED! The 108 page Emergency Planning Manual and Workbook § is the only book to offer you : essential survival information coupled with worksheets and extra work space to record your survival plan. Foreword by Ross Peterson For only _ Catastrophic Earthquake : Vancouver? _ A. s. Te ‘products are made in Canada prepared key to dealing with quakes vacant apartments, Peterson found his own hotel crowded, but not with those taking refuge from the damage: Insurance adjusters in town to get a quick start in taking care of the backlog of claims jammed the rooms. Although Los Angeles was pre- pared for the quake, a major factor with how individual people handled the disaster was whether or not they had accepted the fact a quake would occur and that they would be on their own for a few days, said Peterson. “It's a state of mind people have to get into before they can properly prepare,” he noted. “Just the look on their faces showed who was prepared and who wasn't.” he said, But no matter how poorly L.A.'s population fared, said Peterson, the North Shore may lace even more hardship than Los Angeles from a- similar sized earthquake. In Los Angeles, explained’ Peterson, many alternate road routes exist. But on the North Shore, the loss of any route into the area could be a problem because options are limited. Peterson said the North Shore is “very vulnerable” because the Lions Gate and Second Narrows bridges were both built before modern stan- dards were instituted and may not be serviceable after a quake. On the North Shore, where most apartments are full, homeless people would not be able to take shelter in vacant digs. “All of those things point to the need for personal preparedness,” Peterson concluded. To help North Shore residents _cope in case of an earthquake, Peterson’s office provides informa- tion and education to the public through neighborhood emergency preparedness programs. Through the programs, North Shore residents can prepare them- selves using the skills and resources . found in their own neighborhoods. Peterson said families have to determine their own personal needs such as medication, water, food, and unifying their families at a time Photos North and Woat Vancouver Emergency Program IMMEDIATELY AFTER the Los Angeles earthquake, fires. burned in the streets and rubble littered home sites. ay when all services including water, sewage, gas and transportation would be unavailable. But first, he said, the public has to accept the inevitable will happen. Peterson said the Lower Mainland does not get a large number of earthquakes that can be felt, so the public feels we won't have one. “That's not the right iogic to use,” he said, adding seismologists and geologists say we are overdue. Peterson said scientists believe Get your Quake Kit at BCAA! Non-member price. Member price $54.95* $49.95* *plus applicable taxes BCAA Insurance Agency, southwest B.C. should expect a quake of the size that hit L.A. to shake our area every 20 to 30 years. .. The last one rocked the area in 1946, That was on Vancouver Island. THE NORTH Shore’ ‘may face even ‘more hardship than L.A.. from a similar sized quake.