ODPEM Urges Jamaicans Not to Overlook Earthquake Preparedness

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is reminding Jamaicans that disaster preparedness must extend beyond hurricanes to include earthquakes and other hazards to which the country is exposed.

Deputy Director General of ODPEM, Richard Thompson, said that while considerable attention is given to hurricane preparedness, the country’s vulnerability to seismic activity makes it equally important to implement measures to reduce earthquake risks.

“We’re a hurricane country, and we tend to speak heavily about hurricanes, but preparedness is from a multi-hazard standpoint,” he said.

Mr. Thompson was speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank, organised by ODPEM.

He explained that Jamaica’s location within an active tectonic region of the Caribbean increases its exposure to earthquakes, which can cause extensive damage and loss of life.

“We sit on a very active plate margin in the Caribbean plate, and we are further made a little bit more vulnerable in Jamaica by sitting on another fracture in the Caribbean plate, which is a microplate. And so, we have to place emphasis, as well, in terms of our seismic hazards, our seismic vulnerability, and ensuring that we are putting in measures to build seismic resilience,” said Mr. Thompson.

He emphasised that building resilience to earthquakes must begin at the construction stage, with adherence to established building codes and standards.

“Seismic resilience starts at construction… looking at the type of codes that you have to build by, depending on the size of the building that you’re putting down, the kind of rebars that you have to put in, sticking to your standards as to how your rebars are spaced, and sticking to standard in terms of your concrete consistency,” Mr. Thompson explained.

The Deputy Director General said similar attention must be given to public infrastructure, including roads and bridges, to ensure that these structures are built in accordance with the relevant codes.

He pointed out that disaster preparedness involves more than the immediate measures commonly taken ahead of hurricanes, such as stocking up on food, medication and other essential supplies.

Rather, Mr. Thompson said it requires longer-term investments in resilient buildings and infrastructure to reduce the potential impact of disasters.