WOULD WE BE READY?

Atemblor that registered 6.2 on the Richter scale rocked central Italy this week, killing more than 250 people and reducing ancient hilltop villages to rubble. As Italian rescuers dig out, the Canadian and Quebec governments have pledged their help and many Montrealers have opened their wallets.

The earthquake that levelled sparsely inhabited Amatrice should serve as a wake-up call about the not-so-remote likelihood and dire consequences of a similar magnitude event striking the densely populated Montreal area.

The C.D. Howe Institute released a study this month saying there is a 5- to 15-per-cent chance of a major quake shaking the fault line that runs up the St. Lawrence River Valley in the next 50 years. It estimates the cost of collapsed bridges, viaducts, buildings, water mains, roadways and homes from a 7.1 magnitude temblor would likely top $60 billion.

The odds of a massive quake on the Cascadia Subduction Zone in the Pacific Northwest are higher — an alarming one in three in the next 30 years. And the C.D. Howe report pegs greater financial fallout in British Columbia — more than $75 billion. But the authors note that in many ways the damage in the Ottawa-MontrealQuebec City corridor could be more devastating — both because of the age and state of infrastructure here and the lack of preparedness.

Either scenario would “likely be the largest natural disaster the country has faced” and would send severe aftershocks rippling through the entire Canadian economy.

The focus of the C.D. Howe report was to call for an agreement with the federal government to backstop the insurance, banking and mortgage-lending industries from being decimated by their losses in the case of a such a disaster. Indeed, this seems like prudent emergency planning. But individuals also need to act. About 65 per cent of B.C. residential property owners have earthquake insurance. But only about two per cent of homeowners in the rest of Canada do — including those in the high-risk St. Lawrence corridor.

But beyond insurance policies, Montrealers should ask themselves if they even know what to do when the ground starts shaking. Do they know where to take cover? Do they know the subsequent risks of aftershocks, landslides, fires and flooding? Do they have an emergency kit with a supply of water and food? Do they have a plan to reunite with family members if they are separated when a quake hits?

The federal, provincial and city governments offer many resources to educate residents. People should familiarize themselves now. It will be too late to figure this out if a quake downs power lines and topples cellphone towers.

Preparedness starts with awareness and Montrealers have much to do to get ready.