Officials say a tsunami advisory issued Tuesday night was a good trial run for B.C.’s emergency response system.
The advisory was issued after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the east coast of Russia sent tsunami waves across the Pacific.
Residents of coastal B.C. were told to stay out of the water and away from shorelines.
Port Hardy Mayor Pat Corbett-Labatt says the provincial and local responses appear to have been effective, but more could be done to improve communication with the public.
“One thing that would much improve the communication… if there was cellphone coverage all the way up and down the island, right to Cape Scott,” says Corbett-Labatt, adding that “[there is] a local emergency alert… And more people need to be signed up for that.”
When the tsunami advisory was issued, people along beaches were encouraged to move to higher ground and Corbett-Labatt says “the majority of people were respectful and very concerned.”
No significant flooding happened, and the advisory was cancelled July 29.
-with files from Emily Joveski
