August 12, 2026

What to Do During an Earthquake: Things I Recently Learned That I Wish I Knew Before

by Angela V

With the earthquake in Venezuela earlier this summer and now the recent earthquake in my beautiful Colombia, I’ve been thinking a lot about earthquakes.

I grew up in South America, so earthquakes aren’t exactly a new concept to me. I’ve experienced them before, and I’ve always known that living in British Columbia means earthquakes are something we should be prepared for. But I realized recently that there were actually a lot of things I didn’t know about what you’re supposed to do when an earthquake happens.

One thing in particular really surprised me. I always knew you shouldn’t use an elevator during an earthquake. That one seemed obvious, but I didn’t realize that if you’re living in an apartment or high-rise building, especially on a higher floor, you also shouldn’t immediately try to run down the stairs while the building is shaking.