The recent 7.9 earthquake just off the coast of Kodiak Alaska, has caused a ripple effect in terms of how prepared coastal communities are in handling natural disasters.
While community officials and residents look at ways to become better prepared, there is also the mental health aspect of people who experienced similar disasters.
October 27th of 2012, a massive 7.8 earthquake hit off the north coast of Haida Gwaii, with massive shaking from Masset all the way down to Queen Charlotte city. minor shaking was reported as far as Quesnel.
Aftershocks were felt weeks after the October quake. panic and anxiety was an undoubtedly a common theme throughout residents of the island.
Long time Haida resident Patti Jones says because her house is a designated safe zone area, many people showed up early Tuesday morning, but notes echoes of fear and anxiety were felt throughout the residence.
Jones adds though they were in safe space from any potential tsunami, there was a greater concern for family and friends who were out on the water in fishing boats when the call came through.
Mental health experts say thought it is incredibly important to improve warnings and protocols but also to have mental health workers on site and available to open up the dialouge with regard to fears, anxieties and ways to cope.
In the small community of Queen Charlotte — citizens got through the recent trauma by speaking about there similar feelings and fears.
The 2012 quake was the second largest in Canada ever reported by sesiomtologists, the largest was in 1949 just north of Queen Charlotte city near Graham island.
