A chance to a new earthquake warning system

by Brock Hunter:

This week’s 4.8 magnitude earthquake was not only a wake up call that we have to be better prepared — it was a chance to test a new system in local schools.

UBC’s early warning system worked well in its first real action Tuesday night.

The sensors are in about 50 schools around the Lower Mainland now.

Carlos Ventura with the university’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility says it can give about a 12 second heads up to students.

And while that may not seem like much, he says that can make all the difference.

“As soon as the students hear the alarm or a voice telling them there is an earthquake likely to happen, they will crawl underneath their desk… always recommended as the smartest thing to do.”

Ventura explains the sensors live about two metres under ground and keep track of earth movements. “So the idea of the underwater system is that by the vibrations that we start to feel that are related to an earthquake, and therefore you are going to take steps to protect yourself.”

The plan is to get the system installed in even more schools, along with hospitals and other community buildings.

He hopes it could one day be used to give TransLink heads up to stop SkyTrain, doctors put down scalpels and construction workers could shut off gas mains.

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