People around the world were panicking after a tsunami advisory was issued to most of the West Coast on July 29. However, studies show that Rupertites have nothing to fear.
Between 2017 and 2019, the City of Prince Rupert contracted Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd. (NHC) to conduct a study assessing the risks of a tsunami in the city.
The study assessed the hazard and vulnerability of Prince Rupert in the event of seismic and non-seismic tsunamis.
The risk assessment was based on a tsunami occurring in the Alaska–Aleutian subduction zone and determined that, based on a number of factors, a tsunami poses no threat to Prince Rupert.
The risk to residents of Prince Rupert is low according to the study.
“It is unlikely that consequences will include people killed or injured. No residential development in Prince Rupert is located in areas at risk. As a result, no residential areas need to be evacuated.” the study said.
“The protection of the public will be maximized by an effective warning system and the evacuation of waterfront areas to higher ground. Given no need for evacuation of residential areas, the warning time of over three hours should enable the securing of mooring lines and the orderly evacuation of marinas, ferry terminals and waterfront work sites. The risk appears minimal for industrial terminals but loading facilities should be shut down and waterfront work locations evacuated as a precautionary measure.”
Because the port is so deep and the outlying islands protecting the city, any waves caused by tsunamis will be minimal and the Prince Rupert Harbour will be one of the safest places for marine traffic said the NHC.
“The lowest velocities and inundation levels are in the Prince Rupert Harbour or west of Digby Island. These locations away from land will avoid the strong velocities moving through Venn Passage, Fern Passage or south of the Fairview Harbour. These may be the safest locations for marine vessels.”
The NHC concluded their study by reiterating that Prince Rupert is safe in the event of a tsunami.
“The analysis of the inundation and velocity maps from the seismic‐generated events show that no residential areas, emergency services, critical community infrastructure and schools are all located away from the impacts of these tsunami scenarios. All road transportation corridors, BC Hydro corridors and the municipal water supply are not within any tsunami impact area. The most exposed areas under both seismic and non-seismic tsunamis consist of marinas and other marine infrastructure in Fern Passage, Venn Passage and the east coast of Digby Island.”
The City of Prince Rupert has an emergency alert system to alert residents to evacuate in the unlikely event of a tsunami threat.
Even though a tsunami threat is unlikely, the B.C. government recommends having a tsunami grab-and-go bag just in case.
