The Earthquake Early Warning system is already active in western British Columbia and has recently expanded to eastern Ontario and Quebec — both recognized as earthquake zones.
The first sign of an earthquake could be an alert on your smartphone, radio or television
Assume the alert is real.
You have only seconds to react.
If you receive an alert, do not wait!
Drop!
Drop to your hands and knees. If you’re inside, stay there – do not go outdoors or to other rooms.
Cover!
If possible, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture.
Hold on!
Hold on to your shelter with one arm, and cover your head and neck with the other until 60 seconds after the shaking stops.
If you are in bed
Turn onto your stomach, cover your head and neck with pillows, and hold on.
If you are using a wheelchair
Turn away from windows and other hazards, lock the wheels and, if possible, cover your head and neck with your arms.
Learn about earthquake risks and how to react in different situations.
How should I respond to an alert?
Assume the alert is real and follow the alert instructions to take immediate protective action. During an earthquake, the alert tells you that an earthquake has been detected and to drop, cover and hold on.
Will everyone receive the alert at the same time?
Most people should receive the alert around the same time, but the farther you are from the epicentre, the more warning time you will have. It may not be possible, however, to send an alert to locations that are very close to an earthquake’s epicentre before the strong shaking begins.
Will we always be notified of an earthquake that could affect us?
No. In some cases, people may feel shaking but not receive an alert because the warning system sends alerts only for potentially harmful shaking levels. Earthquakes that generate low levels of shaking will not produce alerts. In Canada, this warning system is available within the high-risk areas of British Columbia, eastern Ontario, and Quebec.
What does the alert sound like on a smartphone?
Public alerts are issued on compatible wireless devices such as smartphones, radios, and cable or satellite televisions through the National Public Alerting System.
Listen to the alert tone, and check your phone’s compatibility.
How does the Earthquake Early Warning system know to send me an alert?
The system determines the location and size of the earthquake, then calculates how strong the shaking will be. The system sends alerts only for potentially harmful shaking levels. If the shaking reaches the level for alerting, this information is sent to the National Public Alerting System, which then sends the alert to cell towers, radios, and cable and satellite televisions in those areas.
Learn more about earthquakes at Earthquakes Canada.