VANCOUVER, Oct. 20, 2011 – Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is proud to be the gold sponsor of The Great British Columbia ShakeOut to be held across the province today at 10.20 a.m. In the last drill, the event drew over 470,000 participants – the largest province-wide drill to take place in Canada. Over 500,000 people have signed up to participate in this drill in their homes, schools, businesses and government offices. For more information, please visit www.shakeoutbc.ca.
“IBC is pleased to sponsor this important initiative to inform British Columbians about how to be prepared and how to protect themselves during an earthquake,” said Lindsay Olson, IBC’s Vice-President, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “IBC understands all too well the risks associated with earthquakes and urges consumers to take steps to be better prepared.”
IBC works hard on a number of fronts to inform Canadians about the ways that they can prepare themselves, their homes and their businesses to be more resilient and reduce losses in the face of natural and other disasters.
Here are some tips about how to be better prepared for an earthquake:
- Know the safe and dangerous places in your home.
- Make an appointment now with your insurance representative to talk about your earthquake insurance. Check your coverage – it will affect your loss and financial ability to recover after an earthquake.
- Plan and practise evacuation.
- Talk to your family about what to do if they’re at home, school, or at work and are separated during a quake.
- Arrange an out-of-the-area contact (e.g., in the interior if you live on the coast).
- Each family member should carry the contact phone number and address.
Don’t forget to practise – Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
For further safety tips and insurance information, visit www.ibc.ca.
About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 114,000 Canadians, pays more than $7 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $40 billion.
To view media releases and information, visit the media section of IBC’s website at www.ibc.ca.
SOURCE: Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC)
Tags: earthquake, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), Natural Catastrophes, ShakeOut