Jamaicans Urged to Build Back Better to Strengthen Earthquake Resilience

As Jamaica continues recovery efforts following the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is urging Jamaicans to rebuild in a way that strengthens the country’s resilience to earthquakes.

Speaking during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, Director General, ODPEM, Commander Alvin Gayle, said that the post-hurricane season presents a significant opportunity to improve national preparedness across multiple hazards.

“As we continue, it must be recognised that it is central to all Jamaicans to be resilient in our livelihoods. We recall that having had the effect of Hurricane Melissa, it is now an opportune time for us to be able to build back in a more resilient manner,” said Commander Gayle.

He noted that Jamaica has robust building codes and other processes in place to ensure that building structures can “stand up to earthquakes”, should such an event occur.

Commander Gayle stressed that as preparedness and mitigation efforts advance, citizens must remain mindful, during the post-Hurricane Melissa recovery period, of the need to abide by established building codes to ensure Jamaica becomes more resilient going forward.

“It is important that as we recover, that we adhere to the guidelines established by the Municipal Corporations and the other relevant agencies that are pertinent to your building applications,” he said.

He further emphasised that while hurricanes remain Jamaica’s most visible disaster threat, the country is also highly exposed to earthquakes due to its geographic location along the Caribbean tectonic plate.

“It is important to realise that there is not only one disaster type that affects us. We did see the destruction post-Hurricane Melissa. It is no less of an event should we have a large earthquake, and we must be prepared in all ways that are possible,” Commander Gayle said.

ODPEM continues to boost awareness and promote preparedness as a key element to disaster readiness.

Special focus is now being placed on earthquakes as the agency, along with other stakeholders, observes Earthquake Awareness Week under the theme ‘Resilient Jamaica: We Weather the Storm and Brace for the Shake’.