Fault Lines

A catastrophic earthquake hits Canada's West Coast. Fault Lines is where CBC Vancouver Seismologist Johanna Wagstaffe guides you through two likely and equally disastrous scenarios so you know how to prepare yourself, your family, and your neighbours.

Survival and resilience are key to the rebuilding efforts. Hear how to have the plan you need so you can do it. Two survivors of Christchurch quakes share their essential tips. Preparation is empowerment. We are all in this together.

We are still in the life-saving phase but rescue becomes recovery. Outside aid arrives and we realize the scope of the damage. Thousands are homeless but communities gather together to create some sort of normalcy.

Three days after the quake, food and supplies are starting to run out. Communication lines improve. Social media and radio are a lifeline. Families reunite, but people are afraid to go into their homes.

The West Coast is cut off from the rest of BC and Canada. A major tsunami has hit the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Those who survive gather and try to locate loved ones. Emergency workers race to rescue those who are trapped and assess the damage.

Johanna sets up two different, equally likely scenarios. First, The Big One: a 9.1 mega-thrust earthquake. Then, the lesser known 7.0 magnitude crustal quake which is shallow and strikes beneath the city of Vancouver. The outcome is catastrophic.

The climate is changing. So are we. On What On Earth, you’ll explore a world of solutions with host Laura Lynch and our team of journalists. In 1970, 20 million people showed up to fight for the environment on the first Earth Day. More than five decades later, is it time for this much tamer global event to return to its radical roots? OG organizer Denis Hayes recounts how – amidst other counterculture movements at the time – his team persuaded roughly one in ten Americans to take to the streets. As he approaches 80, Denis offers his singular piece of advice to the next generation of climate leaders. Then, environmental warriors Maria Blancas and Axcelle Campana share ideas on what a reinspired Earth Day could look like – including making it a public holiday. More episodes of What On Earth are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/Du89yXLr We love to hear from our listeners and regularly feature them on the show. Have a question or idea? Email Earth@cbc.ca