ICLR Friday Forum: Earthquake Early Warning in Canada (Oct. 11, 2024)

On October 11, 2024 ICLR hosted a Friday Forum webinar titled 'Earthquake Early Warning in Canada', led by Alison Bird, Seismologist, Natural Resources Canada.

Natural Resources Canada has developed a national Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system designed to enhance early detection and warning in areas of moderate to high earthquake risk, focused on western British Columbia, eastern Ontario, and southern Quebec. The EEW system provides seconds to tens-of-seconds of notice before strong shaking starts. These warnings allow people to protect themselves (usually to “Drop, Cover, and Hold on”) and automated systems to take protective actions, such as stopping trains, closing valves, opening doors, and sounding alarms – helping to reduce injuries, deaths, and property losses.

Alison Bird has been working as an Earthquake Seismologist with Natural Resources Canada since 2000, analyzing and researching western Canada's earthquakes, and routinely responding in the wake of significant events (having given over 1,000 interviews). In 2020, she joined the Earthquake Early Warning project as Liaison & Outreach Officer, helping to establish an EEW system for Canada.