Insurance Bureau of Canada says five earthquakes will soon shake Quebec

Letting Quebecers experience an earthquake

MONTREAL, May 22, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - If you have never felt a quake and wondered what you would do if one did occur, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) invites you to check out Quake Cottage, an earthquake simulator. The third edition of the event will take place from May 26 to June 10, in Quebec City, Laval, Gatineau and Montreal.

IBC wants Quebecers to prepare for an earthquake by having them experience an extraordinary event, and learn what steps to take if the earth did start to shake. Eastern Canada averages 450 quakes each year, and Quebec is likely to experience a major quake. 

Experience the risk for 30 seconds

The simulator will let each person experience a 30-second quake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. Although the quakes we feel in Quebec are generally not as strong, the province has already experienced a quake as strong as the one simulated by Quake Cottage. This is what we need to prepare for.

The impact of a high magnitude quake would be great, not only in terms of lives lost but also financial losses. "It is essential that Quebecers be aware of the very real risk of a major quake and learn to protect themselves and their property. That is the objective of the Quake Cottage tour", noted Pierre Babinsky, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, at Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Three steps to protect oneself

Drop, Cover (under a solid piece of furniture) and Hold On. These are the three steps to take during the Grande Secousse (Great ShakeOut), a drill held each year in October. According to a 2017 IBC survey, only 8% of the population knew which three steps to take during a quake, while 19% would take cover beneath a door frame, a spot that is unfortunately not very safe.  

Quake Cottage the focus at local events

IBC is pleased to have the support of its partners and local events to welcome the third edition of its tour. 

Some of the places where the earth will shake: 

• Saturday, May 26: Fête mondiale du jeu, Quebec City 
• Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3: Fête des pompiers, Laval
• Saturday, June 9: Semaine de Gatineau
• Sunday, June 10: Festival MURAL, Montreal

Click here for the complete and detailed calendar.

About IBC
Insurance Bureau of Canada, which groups the majority Canada's P&C insurers, offers various services to consumers in order to inform and assist them when purchasing car or home insurance, or making a claim. For all other information, we invite you to contact our Insurance Information Centre at 1-877-288-4321, or visit our web site at www.infoinsurance.ca.

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada