VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Are you ready for the Big One?

Emergency responders from across the country are in Vancouver taking part in “Magnitude 12,” a mock catastrophe exercise.

Vancouver Assistant Fire Chief Jim Young says about 150 people will be doing everything needed to keep you safe in the event of a large earthquake — from operating a command centre, pulling people out of a collapsed building and a high angle rescue off the Burrard Street bridge.

“We’ve got all the collapsed props set up and you’ll see rescuers rescuing people out of a rubble pile,” Young explains.

Teams from Manitoba and Calgary are joining forces with Heavy Urban Search and Rescue members in this exercise. The main role of these teams is to provide “All Hazards” response to a variety of different emergencies.

“It’s important to do this type of training because it creates that common response type of protocol so that when they do arrive on scene to help us — and we will require them — they will be able to fit into our response,” Young adds.

Vancouver’s task force is made up of 126 members from Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, Vancouver Police, City of Vancouver Engineering, Vancouver Park Board and BC Ambulance Service.