I have more than 12 years experience on seismic analysis and design including landslide generated wave and tsunami
Loads on structures, with physical models developed by well-known institutes. Disaster prevention is more importent than prediction, it not worth to Waste time on some unsound and rediculous posts by some sick-minded people. Any Possible structure damage caused by earthquake depends on its properties such as mass, stiffness, their distribution and the characteristics of the EQ! It is not necessary that Richmond structure will experience more severe damage than those in other cities nearby. It is true that there's very high likelihood of liquafaction in richmond, surrey, delta, Langley and some places close to the waters, Even in Vancouver, some region can not be fully excluded from liquefaction! The damage that EQ induced liquefaction may cause would not be too worrisome for single family properties according to the observation from the 1989 loma prieta and 1994 northridge earthquake. The main reason is that the relative flexible structure and light weight(mass) of these timber constructions. It is likely that residual displacement will be observed after EQ for many structures, but fully collapse is unlikely if properly constructed. There will be two major type EQ for British Columbians, one that will be located about 160 km-360km away from Vancouver, at Juan de fuca fault west of Vancouver island, from Queen Charlette Island to Oregan State, this may be a 8+ subduction earthquake and possibly with tsunami generated but depends the epicenter depth, and this is the one many medias talked about the "Big one". However, since it is so far away from Vancouver, people really don't need to be panic. From the records, when this big one occured, the lower mainlandites will feel significant shaking, and may be scared. But significant damage was not observed and should not be expected. The other one could occur between Vancouver and the island, in George strait, this one is high likely be a crustal EQ which could be more severe and causing signifant damages since it is close to us and possiblly shallow one even it may be only a M6.5 -7 shake, wheher you are in Richmond or vancouer or any other municipalities, but it is unlikely that a tsunami will be generated for many reasons, such as epicenter depth, not enough disdance for propagation, water depth and volume etc. The real threat to Richmondites is that wether the dyke can resist such an EQ, if not, water damage is inevitable, but as I said this damage will not be more severe than those we will see in other places.