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Hazards

Like all communities, the City of Nanaimo faces a range of hazards that require planning and awareness These hazards include:

  • Natural hazards, such as windstorms, extreme weather, and earthquakes
  • Human‑caused hazards, such as hazardous material spills or vehicle accidents

Understanding these risks helps the City protect people, property, and essential services.

But how do we know what to prepare for?

Understanding Disaster Risk

Disaster risk is measured by considering two things:

  • Vulnerability – how much damage a disaster could cause
  • Likelihood – how likely the disaster is to happen

These two factors are combined to calculate risk.

How Risk Is Used

Once risk is calculated, hazards are ranked from highest to lowest risk.
This helps the City focus time and resources on the hazards that matter most.

This process is called a Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA). The current HRVA for Nanaimo can be found here.

Earthquake Risk in Nanaimo

One of the most serious regional hazards for Nanaimo is an earthquake.

The video above presents a realistic earthquake scenario. It shows:

  • The types of damage that could occur
  • How people can prepare to reduce risk and stay safe

To learn more about earthquakes and how to prepare, visit Shake Out BC.

Last updated: April 14, 2026

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