Living With Tsunami Risk in Port Alberni

How our family prepares while still getting outside and exploring Vancouver Island.

If you Google Port Alberni there is a pretty darn good chance you will come across something about the tsunami or that we were once named one of the worst places to live in Canada… oh man not the best introduction to our town. Personally I like it here. It's a great town. But anyway I degress back to tsumani chat. The 1964 tsunami is a huge part of our history here. I grew up in Port Alberni as a kid and moved back here as an adult. Now my husband and I are raising our three kids here. Earthquakes and tsunamis are something we think about and prepare for unfortunately.. but it is not something we sit around worrying on a daily basis either. We live in such a great spot surrounded by so much nature. We have mountains, lakes, rivers, trails and the ocean isn’t far. We camp, hike, and spend our summers at the nearby lakes. And we head out toward the West Coast all the time. We love to surf and the kids love boggy boarding. But in order to do that I need to feel prepared. For me being prepared doesn't mean being scared to do any of those things. It's more about knowing what could happen, having some stuff ready and knowing what to do if something ever does happen. Which honestly this makes me feel a little more in control of the unknown. If that makes sense.

TSUNAMI OF 1964

On March 27 1964 there was a massive 9.2 earthquake in Alaska. It lasted more than four minutes and caused a tsunami that travelled all the way to Vancouver Island. The waves travelled about 40 km up the Alberni Inlet and as the inlet gets narrower it basically funnels the water toward Alberni and Port Alberni. The first wave arrived around midnight and measured 2.44 metres. About an hour later an even bigger 3.05 metre wave came in and caused a huge amount of damage. There were actually six waves altogether. According to the Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society, 65 homes were washed away and another 375 were damaged. There was around $5 million in damage between Alberni and Port Alberni at the time. And somehow there were no fatalities.

WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE NOW?

Obviously we know a lot more now and Port Alberni is much more prepared than it was in 1964. There are tsunami warning towers around Port Alberni as well as tsunami zones and evacuation information. The ACRD has a tsunami map online where you can actually look at the different areas and see where you are. The sirens are audibly tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 1pm. So if you're visiting Port Alberni and hear them at that time, don't panic even though I always listen to make sure they say “this is a test” before continuing on what I am doing. If there is a real tsunami warning, obviously that's completely different. And if you feel a significant earthquake and you're in a tsunami zone, don't wait around for someone to tell you what to do. Follow the current emergency information and get to higher ground. We can also sign up for Voyent Alert! here which sends emergency notifications. Even if you're just visiting Port Alberni I think it's worth looking at the tsunami map. It takes a couple minutes and then at least you know where you are and where you would go.

WHAT WE DO AS A FAMILY

Having three kids definitely makes me think about this stuff more. Even at school we make an individual emergency kit for each of our kids that stays at school. So if something happens while they're there, they have some of their own supplies. At home I have grab and go bags right by our front door. They are literally sitting there ready to grab if we ever need to leave quickly. I also keep emergency kits in our vehicles and we have more emergency supplies in the garage. TIP: make sure you update your supplies. Things expire and clothes are outgrown by the kids. Plus dog food starts to stink! We also have a few 7 gallon water jobs filled up that we change out every few months (I water the plants with the wasted water).

A few years ago I went on a huge emergency prepareness kick and I made big earthquake kits for our family which include water, LifeStraws, first aid supplies, extra clothes, dehydrated food, bars, nuts, snacks, blankets, headlamps, power banks and other things we might need if we couldn't get home or had to leave quickly. Hopefully we never use any of it. That's the goal. But I would much rather have it sitting there collecting dust than suddenly wish I had it.

BEING PREPARED WHEN WE'RE OUT ADVENTURING

Being prepared at home definitely carries over into how we adventure too. We usually bring extra water, bear spray, a first aid kit, headlamps and a power bank. If we might need water along the way, we'll bring a water filter too, even on day trips. If we're heading somewhere without cell service, we download our maps and make sure someone knows where we're going. I'll tell my husband or family where my car is parked, where I'm going and what time I should be back. Basically if I'm not back by this time, come looking for me. Most of the time we don't need the extra stuff. But if we ever do, we'll be pretty happy we brought it.

THIS CARRIES OVER INTO ALBERNI ADVENTURE GEAR TOO

I own Alberni Adventure Gear here in Port Alberni, and I'm also a registered nurse, so I think I'm naturally someone who likes to be prepared (maybe anxiety as well adds to this!) It's why our backpacking bundles don't just have the obvious stuff like a tent and sleeping bag. We also think about water filtration, first aid, headlamps and the little things that can actually matter when you're out there. A lot of our customers are travelling to Vancouver Island or trying camping or backpacking for the first time. You can rent a full setup from us or just grab the few things you're missing.

PREPARED DOESN'T MEAN SCARED

We live on Vancouver Island. Earthquakes and tsunamis are possible, along with storms, wildfires, power outages and plenty of places without cell service. I want my kids to know how to be prepared without being scared to go adventuring, So we have our emergency supplies at home and in our vehicles. We pack what we need when we head out. And then we go and continue on with life and having fun on adventures. We camp, hike, swim, exploreand get out with our kids as much as we can. Being prepared is just part of it.

VISITING PORT ALBERNI?

If you ended up here because you Googled "Port Alberni tsunami" while planning your trip don't let that be the only thing you learn about us. There is so much to see and do here around the Alberni Valley. And if camping or backpacking is part of your Vancouver Island trip remember that out business Alberni Adventure Gear rents full camping and backpacking bundles and individual gear right here in Port Alberni.