Vancouver Island homeowners buy considerably more earthquake insurance than the rest of B.C., according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

While 70 per cent of Vancouver Island homeowners have purchased earthquake insurance, the provincial average is 45 per cent.

According to IBC vice-president Aaron Sutherland, the biggest barrier to homeowners buying earthquake insurance isnB次元官网网址檛 the price B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 the perception of risk.

B次元官网网址淲e know from our polling that most British Columbians donB次元官网网址檛 expect an earthquake to happen in their lifetime, but we know that weB次元官网网址檝e seen the most seismic activity on the Island in the last few years, and thatB次元官网网址檚 a constant reminder to residents on the Island that earthquake risk is very real and we all need to take steps to ensure weB次元官网网址檙e prepared.B次元官网网址�

Although emergency plans enable local governments to lay a foundation for their response to catastrophic events, emergency response is not the sole responsibility of government, according Eileen Grant, emergency program manager with the District of Oak Bay.

B次元官网网址淥ur strength will be in the relationships that we have built leading up to the disaster,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that one of the primary activities of the Oak Bay Emergency Program is education.

B次元官网网址淥ur aim is to help Oak Bay residents become prepared to be self-sustaining for seven days or more, and resilient enough to be able to make the decision to stay in Oak Bay through its recovery,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his year alone we have talked to over 1,000 residents about the value of being prepared and resilient.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淥ak BayB次元官网网址檚 real strength is its residents, and they are its most important factor in how well it will survive and be able rebuild after a disaster.B次元官网网址�

Grant said the district also relies on the relationships it has built with its regional infrastructure partners.

B次元官网网址淲e have developed mutual aid agreements with our neighbours to increase our capacity to respond to an emergency,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hese relationships are part of Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 everyday life and the backbone of our response and recovery plans.B次元官网网址�

Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle said community meetings and workshops about emergency preparedness tend to have full attendance in Oak Bay.

B次元官网网址淲e know that people are engaged,B次元官网网址� he said.