How to survive a major earthquake if you're in an unusual place

The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, the province's largest earthquake drill, takes place on Oct. 20 at 10:20 AM, with over 790,000 B.C. residents registered to participate.

While most people know to "drop, cover and hold on" if they feel the earth begin to shake, keeping safe may not always be obvious if you find yourself outside of your home or workplace when an earthquake hits.

B.C. ShakeOut campaign member and regional emergency planner Miranda Myles shared some of her earthquake survival tips with CBC host Andrew Chang, including what to do if you find yourself in one of the following situations:

The shower

Myles said that if you feel an earthquake when you're in the shower, you should apply the conventional wisdom to get down and hold on as best you can.

"You don't want to run out of the shower, you want to drop down and stay in the tub." 

She recommended securing your bathroom by ensuring that there are no heavy objects hanging near the bathtub.

An underground parking garage

If you find yourself in an underground parking garage, Myles recommended taking shelter by "tucking up against an interior wall, up against a pillar, or even staying in your car."

In the car

Many people who have experienced earthquakes while driving say that they initially thought that something was wrong with their car, causing them to slow down and pull over, which is the safest thing to do. 

You should then stay in your car, but make sure not to stop on a bridge or under an overpass. Myles also recommended tuning into the radio for updates, and keeping an emergency kit in your car.

Walking down the sidewalk

Myles said that walking down the sidewalk, or being immediately outside any building, can be one of the most dangerous places to be during an earthquake.

"You want to be really aware of your surroundings and this may be the one time where you do want to tuck inside into a doorway," she said.

This will best protect you from broken glass or other falling debris. 

Grocery store

In an retail space, the key is to avoid objects that may start flying off the shelves.

"If you're in an aisle where there's lots of stuff that could fall on you, you want to get low, so drop to the ground, and then crawl to the end of the aisle or use something nearby to protect you, like your shopping cart for example," Myles said.

If the shelves are large enough, you can also climb onto the bottom rack for protection.

The Skytrain

Myles said that like motorists, SkyTrain riders may not initially notice that an earthquake is occurring.

She recommends staying where you are, getting low, and holding on until the shaking subsides. Riders should not venture onto the tracks, but wait for assistance or instructions about how to exit the train safely. 

Sports stadium and concerts

In situations where there are crowds, Myles said it is crucial to remain calm, drop down and hold on to the seat in front of you.

To avoid stampeding once the shaking subsides, you should follow the instructions of the people managing the event space, who will know the safest evacuation routes. 

For more on earthquake preparedness, listen to Faultlines, an original CBC Vancouver podcast. 

With files from CBC Vancouver News at Six.