Two Recent Earthquakes in British Columbia: A Timely Reminder to Review Your Emergency Supplies
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September 2026 | Emergency Preparedness in British Columbia
British Columbia experienced two notable earthquakes within just a few days in September 2026 — one off the west coast of Vancouver Island and another in the province’s southeast.
Neither event resulted in a major disaster.
And that is precisely why they offer a useful opportunity to talk about preparedness calmly, practically and without alarm.
Emergency preparedness works best when it is addressed before it is needed.
Two Earthquakes in Three Days
On September 15, 2026, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake occurred approximately 54.7 kilometres south-southwest of Ucluelet, British Columbia.
According to EmergencyInfoBC, the earthquake occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. PDT at a depth of 5 kilometres. No tsunami was expected. Emergency Info BC
Only two days later, on September 17, another earthquake occurred in southeastern British Columbia.
This event measured magnitude 4.0 and was located approximately 12 kilometres east-northeast of Harrop/Procter. EmergencyInfoBC reported that shaking was felt in communities including Cranbrook, Creston and Nelson. Emergency Info BC
These were not major disasters, and they should not be treated as predictions of a larger earthquake.
They are simply useful reminders of something British Columbians already live with: earthquakes are part of the province’s natural environment.
Preparedness Without Fear
Emergency preparedness should not begin with fear.
It begins with understanding the hazards where we live, knowing what to do when something happens, and maintaining practical supplies that can help us manage disruptions afterward.
During an earthquake, EmergencyInfoBC advises people to Drop, Cover and Hold On and, after shaking stops, to carefully check for damage and hazards and follow instructions from local authorities. Emergency Info BC
The Great British Columbia ShakeOut similarly emphasizes practising these actions in advance. The reason is straightforward: an earthquake can happen without warning, and practising helps people respond quickly when only seconds may be available. ShakeOut BC
Preparedness is therefore not about predicting when the next earthquake will occur.
It is about being better equipped whenever it does.
A Good Time to Review Your Emergency Supplies
The September earthquakes provide a simple reason to take a few minutes and review the emergency supplies already kept at home, at work or in a vehicle.
Check what you have.
Check what has expired.
Think about whether your supplies still reflect the number of people in your household or workplace.
Consider practical essentials such as drinking water, food, lighting, communications, first-aid supplies, medications and other items appropriate to your circumstances.
Emergency food is only one component of a broader emergency preparedness plan.
The goal is not to accumulate supplies out of fear. It is to maintain practical resources that are already available if normal access to stores, transportation, utilities or other everyday services is temporarily disrupted.
Practise as Well as Prepare
Physical supplies alone are not enough.
Knowing what to do during an earthquake can be equally important.
The 2026 Great British Columbia ShakeOut will take place on October 15 at 10:15 a.m.
The annual exercise gives individuals, families, schools, businesses and organizations across British Columbia an opportunity to practise:
Drop. Cover. Hold On.
ShakeOut BC also encourages participants to use the exercise as an opportunity to review emergency plans, update supplies and identify hazards that could cause injuries during an earthquake. ShakeOut BC
That makes September and early October an especially appropriate time for British Columbians to look at both sides of preparedness:
Do we know what to do?
And:
Do we have what we may need afterward?
Emergency Food as One Part of the Plan
At PEAK4RATION, our work focuses on one specific part of emergency preparedness: compact, long-term emergency food.
But food should never be viewed in isolation.
A well-prepared household, workplace, vehicle or remote facility needs a broader plan appropriate to its location and circumstances.
Emergency food becomes useful when it fits naturally into that larger system — something that can be stored ahead of time and available when ordinary routines are interrupted.
That principle also guides our work with outdoor, community and emergency-preparedness organizations in British Columbia.
Preparedness should be practical.
Preparedness should be maintained.
And whenever possible, preparedness should happen long before an emergency begins.
British Columbia's Great ShakeOut Is Coming
The two earthquakes recorded on September 15 and September 17 are now part of British Columbia's ongoing seismic record.
There is no need to turn them into something they were not.
Instead, they can serve as a simple reminder:
Review your plan. Check your supplies. Practise what to do.
With the Great British Columbia ShakeOut approaching on October 15, this is an excellent time for households, workplaces and organizations across the province to do exactly that.
Because preparedness is most useful when it is already in place.
Prepared Today. Ready Tomorrow.
Official Preparedness Resources
For current and authoritative information, we encourage readers to use official emergency-preparedness resources:
EmergencyInfoBC — September 15, 2026 Ucluelet Earthquake
View the official incident information
EmergencyInfoBC — September 17, 2026 Harrop/Procter Earthquake
View the official incident information
The Great British Columbia ShakeOut
Learn about earthquake preparedness and register for the October 15 drill