Earthquake Preparedness Should Be Year-Round – Minister Mckenzie

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, says earthquake awareness and preparedness should be a year-round activity.

This is given Jamaica’s vulnerability to earthquakes due to its geographical location along the northern margin of the Caribbean Plate and the presence of active faults on the island.

“We need to ensure that our programme of information and education is not just in the month of January but every week, every month of the year,” Mr. McKenzie said.

“I have tasked the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to ensure that every month, there are simple messages that can be played. There cannot be too much information out there in the public domain when it comes on to taking necessary precautions around disasters,” he noted.

He was delivering the keynote address during the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management’s (ODPEM) Earthquake Awareness Month press launch on Tuesday (January 16) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Earthquake Awareness Month is being observed under the theme ‘Drop, Cover, Hold, Earthquake readiness is within our control’.

Minister McKenzie shared that town hall meetings will be held in Portland, which was the epicenter of the last few earthquakes, while schools and the business community will be engaged in awareness and preparedness activities.

He further encouraged Jamaicans, especially the youth, to become ambassadors for earthquake awareness.

For his part, ODPEM Director General, Richard Thompson, indicated that Jamaica recorded 345 earthquakes in 2023 but only 14 were felt.

Given this reality, he said it is critical for focus to be placed on earthquake preparedness, with a view to ensuring that lives are saved, livelihoods are protected, infrastructure is safeguarded, while ensuring economic continuity.

“The ODPEM continues the drive to increase Jamaica’s population awareness on earthquake safety measures and best practices. This is being pursued through a multisectoral, multi-agency approach to strengthen disaster preparedness and risk reduction, in addition to increasing disaster resilience in preparing for the response to and ultimately recovering from adverse earthquake events,” Mr. Thompson said.

Citing the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked Jamaica on October 30, 2023, Mr. Thompson said it is a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability and the efforts that are needed to ensure that the country is prepared.

ODPEM is an agency of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

It is responsible for the country’s disaster management and is charged with taking action to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies on the Jamaican population and its economy.

The agency also plays a coordinating role in the execution of emergency response and relief operations during major disasters.