Frequently asked questions

Yes, seven of the ten largest cities in Quebec are located in earthquake risk zones. These include:

1. Montreal
2. Quebec City
3. Laval
4. Gatineau
5. Longueuil
6. Lévis
7. Terrebonne

Among the ten largest cities, only Saguenay, Sherbrooke, and Trois-Rivières are situated outside of risk zones.

1. Register on our website grandesecousse.org.
2. Organize an activity in your community to raise awareness among as many people as possible.
3. Download the promotional materials to remind yourself of the actions to take.
4. On the day of the event, at the scheduled time, "drop, cover, and hold on" as if a real earthquake were occurring.

Yes, there are three risk zones in the province:

1. The Charlevoix-Kamouraska region
2. The Western Quebec region
3. The Bas-Saint-Laurent region

The Great ShakeOut of Quebec is the largest earthquake preparedness exercise in the world. It is held in Quebec, but also everywhere on the planet at the same time.

According to Earthquake Canada, approximately 450 earthquakes occur each year in Eastern Canada. Fortunately, most of these are of low intensity and occur in sparsely populated areas. However, we are not immune to a larger earthquake that could happen in an urban area.

Everyone! Earthquakes are considered major events. If you are prepared to face the possibility of an earthquake and to be self-sufficient for 72 hours or more, you will be more resilient and better equipped to handle other emergencies that may arise. Participate at home, at school, in your organization, or in your municipality.

The instrument that measures seismic activity is called a seismograph. It records ground vibrations caused by the rupture of the Earth's crust using sensors.

Different methods are used today to measure the intensity of earthquakes. For example, the amplitude of seismic waves can be measured using the Richter Scale. The Richter Scale is graded on a magnitude scale from 1 to 9. Another method is the Mercalli Scale, which varies based on the extent of damage and the perception of the population, ranging from I to XII.

The Great ShakeOut in Quebec always takes place on the third Thursday of October. The time of the event varies depending on the date of that third Thursday. For example, if it’s October 17th, the event will be at 10:17 AM. If it’s October 21st, the event will be at 10:21 AM.

Yes, hundreds of small to medium-sized municipalities are located in risk zones. This includes the 82 municipalities in the Montreal Metropolitan Community, as well as many localities in the regions of Laurentians, Lanaudière, Outaouais, Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Charlevoix, Gaspésie, and Côte-Nord.

1. Falling objects
2. Broken glass
3. Power outages
4. Landslides and soil liquefaction
5. Disruption of the road network
6. Collapses of buildings and structures
7. Broken pipelines
8. Fires
9. Industrial accidents (e.g., dam or hazardous material tank ruptures)
10. Tsunamis (in coastal areas)

Ensure that you and your loved ones are safe. If you are injured, attend to your own injuries before assisting others in distress. Stay alert, as aftershocks may occur following a major earthquake.

From a magnitude of 2, people at rest may feel the tremors of an earthquake, but from magnitude 3, the majority of the population will perceive them.

1. Imperceptible tremors
2. Tremors felt by people at rest
3. Threshold where tremors become perceptible to the majority of people
4. Tremors felt, but no damage
5. Tremors strongly felt, minor damage near the epicenter
6. Damage at the epicenter, depending on the quality of construction
7. Significant damage at the epicenter
8. Major damage at the epicenter and over several hundred kilometers
9. Total destruction at the epicenter and over several thousand kilometers

By preparing in advance and planning the actions you would take if such a situation arises:

1. Ensure you have an emergency kit that allows you to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours (three days) in case of a disaster.
2. Create a family emergency plan and familiarize yourself with the actions to take.
3. Identify the safest locations in your home or office where you can take shelter.
4. Conduct simulation drills like La Grande Secousse to develop the reflexes to "drop, cover, and hold on" if an earthquake were to occur.