ODPEM to observe Earthquake Awareness Week

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will observe Earthquake Awareness Week from January 11 to 17, under the theme 'Resilient Jamaica: We Weather the Storm and Brace for the Shake'.

Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service Think Tank on Tuesday, ODPEM Director General, Commander Alvin Gayle, noted that the theme reflects Jamaica's recent experience in recovering from Hurricane Melissa, while serving as a reminder that the island remains vulnerable to multiple hazards, including earthquakes.

"We've seen the effects on our people. We've seen the effects on the broader economy and just livelihoods right across. What we don't want our nation to lose sight of, is the fact that Jamaica still properly sits within a zone which is prone to have seismic activity," he said.

"It is important, then, that during this week we cause our population to remember the history and then be prepared, should there be any future events, that we can properly secure ourselves during the events and then come out on the other side a more resilient nation, even as we seek to recover and build back better from Hurricane Melissa," he added

Gayle informed that Earthquake Awareness Week will feature four major activities.

"We will start the week on January 11 with our social media campaign launch, which is geared towards getting the public heavily engaged in the awareness and preparedness activities around the week. On Monday, January 12, our big day, we officially launch the week, and we start with a live outside broadcast at the headquarters of the ODPEM at Haining Road," he said. He further indicated that on Wednesday, January 14, attention will turn to National School Earthquake Drill Day, during which schools across Jamaica will be encouraged to stage earthquake drills and preparedness sessions.

"[Schools represent] one of our largest gatherings on a daily basis. With well over 1,000 schools, it is important that our youth are properly engaged and know how to react in the event of an earthquake," Gayle explained. There will also be a Business and Workplace Preparedness Day on January 15, when businesses, like schools, are encouraged to stage drills and host learning sessions to strengthen organisational readiness.