Most Lower Mainland residents fear what would happen if an earthquake should hit. But a simulation? Hey, that could be some fun.
The Lower Mainland's municipalities are bringing in the Quake Cottage – a hydraulic “cottage” that rocks and shakes to simulate how it would feel to be in an earthquake of up to eight points on the magnitude scale.
The Quake Cottage is touring around the Lower Mainland as part of Emergency Preparedness Week which runs from May 2 to 9.
“We're trying to essentially communicate that we all have a responsibility to be prepared and people don¹t think about earthquakes because they don't happen that often but we do live in earthquake country,” said Dorit Mason, director of the North Shore Emergency Management Office.
The Quake Cottage holds three people at a time for a three-minute demo. It is free to “ride” but participants will have to sign a waver. Along with the Disneyland-like experience, the NSEMO will be setting up information booths to educate the public on how to be ready for the “big one.”
The first stop for the Quake Cottage on the North Shore is for the 2015 debut of the Friday Night Markets on May 1 from 5 to 10 p.m. at at the Shipyards. Two more stops are planned for May 2nd, 10 a.m. to 5: p.m. at Park Royal South and May 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. at 1277 Lynn Valley Road.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada is paying the $11,000 to transport it here from California and the $3,000 daily cost to run the Quake Cottage is being sponsored by FortisBC, CN Rail, Univar, Erco Worldwide.
“The are essentially funding us to have it in the community on those (three) days,” Mason said.
