Filed under: Knowledge, Software | Tags: British Colombia, business continuity software, business disaster, business impact analysis, disaster, disaster preparation, disaster recovery software, DRJ Sprin World, earthquakes, Florida, KingsBridge Disaster Recovery, Learning Tree International, natural disasters, Orlando
On Wednesday, the province of British Colombia lead by example. Over 420,000 people participated in a province-wide earthquake drill.
At 10 a.m., radio stations through-out the province sounded an alarm and students, office workers, clergy, and church-goers, dove under desks, tables and other stable and sturdy pieces of furniture and hung on for a minute to simulate what to do when the expected big earthquake hits British Colombia.
The purpose of this province-wide drill was to create awareness amongst citizens of what to do when an earthquake hits. The main goal being to emphasize that leaving a shaking building is the worst thing to do. Called “The Great British Colombia Shakeout”, this drill on Wednesday highlights how important it is to be prepared and aware of what to do when disaster strikes.
In addition to this drill, the province has also ensured that public buildings are safer and better designed to withstand the effects of an earthquake. British Colombia is located in a geographical zone that is prone to earthquakes.
So, what can we learn from British Colombia? Essentially, there is no time like the present to identify the threats to your home, business, schools and community as a whole and then the next step is to determine how to prepare yourself to respond to these threats. Imagine if all provinces in Canada followed British Colombia’s lead – Alberta could prepare for the inevitable winter cold snap, Saskatchewan could determine how best to respond to a drought, Manitoba could be ready for the flooding of the Red River, Ontario could be ready for the next ice storm, Quebec could prepare for the springtime floods, New Brunswick could be ready for the early winter storms, Nova Scotia could respond to the high winds, Newfoundland could be ready to face the winter storms, Prince Edward Island could face the high winds and flooding, and Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut could be ready to face the severe cold of the winter.
Sometime to think about it isn’t. Every year we are impacted by the effects of natural disasters – make 2011 the year that you’re ready to respond.
(To read more about the initiatives in British Colombia, follow these links: CBC News, earthquake drills, and earthquake facts.)
P.S. This the perfect reason to register for our 1.5 day course at the DRJ Spring World show in Orlando, Florida. Learn the essentials of disaster recovery planning from us – leading experts with more than 25 years of hands-on experience.
About KingsBridge
KingsBridge offers private businesses and government organizations a unique combination of industry knowledge and cost-effective disaster recovery / business continuity solutions. KingsBridge products and seminars provide the tools to assess possible threats and create tailored plans which mitigate risks and minimize losses in the event of a disruption to business. Kingsbridge is headquartered in Ogdensburg, New York, with offices in Ottawa, Canada and Burlington, Vermont. For more information visit us at http://www.DisasterRecovery.com.
