It’s not a matter of if but when, warns emergency officials regarding earthquakes.
The warning came yesterday on National Earthquake Preparedness Day.
Captain Robert Harewood, Deputy Director at the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) explained that it was matter of when Barbados will face the severe hazard.
The DEM and the Coastal Zone Management Unit launched its month of coastal hazards awareness, which began on March 1. The initiative aims to prepare Barbadians for geological hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis that could affect the island with little to no warning.
“Barbados actually sits very close to the subduction zone,” Harewood explained, highlighting the island’s vulnerability to seismic activity. His concerns are supported by recent data, as he noted that “over the past six months or so, the region has been sustaining quite a number of earthquake activity being measured by the site research centre out of Trinidad and Tobago”.
Unlike hurricanes, which the island prepares for annually and can track as they approach, earthquakes strike without warning, he said.
“Earthquake hazard is one that we will not necessarily see coming or know when it is coming,” Harewood said.
The DEM conducted its annual earthquake drill, demonstrating proper safety procedures during a seismic event. Staff members simulated an emergency scenario, beginning with a meeting that was interrupted by an earthquake warning.
Participants immediately took cover under tables until the simulated shaking subsided. They then evacuated the building in an orderly but swift fashion, gathering outside to conduct a headcount and check for potential injuries.
Harewood provided practical advice for various scenarios during an earthquake.
“If you are in a building with a ceiling or a tile ceiling, you want to get as low as possible under sturdy piece of equipment and cover your head and your torso to avoid debris falling on you,” he advised.
For those near exits, he recommended quickly moving to open areas, while staying “away from trees, electric poles, etc.” If caught in an open field during a tremor, he suggested taking “a knee, get close to the ground so as not to fall over if the earth is shaking.”
The Deputy Director stressed the importance of being familiar with one’s surroundings to make informed decisions during an emergency. “We always recommend that you practice, practice, practice, be aware of your surroundings because you need to know where you are to determine what you’re going to do,” he said.
As part of the ongoing coastal hazards awareness month, the DEM is urging businesses, communities and individuals to develop comprehensive emergency plans and regularly practice their implementation.
In November 2008, Barbados was hit by an earthquakes that rattled the island and left structural damage while traumatising residents, most of whom were experiencing such a tremor for the first time. (DDS)
The post Quake warning appeared first on nationnews.com.