Children from Wickaninnish Elementary that participated in the inaugural High Ground Hike April 15 came home from school better equipped to survive an earthquake thanks to a free emergency kit from Emergency Management BC as part of the events to mark Tsunami Preparedness Week.
The Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness laced-up and ran alongside roughly 80 Tofino school children from all seven grades of the local elementary. The 1 km route from Tonquin Beach follows the Tofino tsunami evacuation route to one of the district’s high ground assembly areas.
The hike is focussed on shining a spotlight on the actions needed by coastal British Columbians who face the rare, but real tsunami threat in the province. A tsunami caused by a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake could hit the B.C. coast in as little as 15 minutes.
The fun run concluded with a preparedness fair at the community hall that was attended by agencies like BC Ambulance Services, the Westcoast Inland Search & Rescue, Tofino Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency Social Services, RCMP and Island Health, as well as Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
