Earthquake Preparedness
We have to think about safety all the time. We can't predict disasters, but if we prepare ourselves it will be easier to cope with the sudden onset of a crisis.
— HMCI Director Dr Barbara Carby
Published 12th December, 9:13am
As Cayman observes its second National Earthquake Awareness Day on Friday, 14 December at least two schools will be staging an earthquake drill to promote awareness of the potential dangers of this hazard in the Caribbean.
Students from Cayman Prep and High School and Triple C School will participate in the exercise, coordinated by Cayman's national disaster management agency Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI).
In preparation for the drill, HMCI Director Dr Barbara Carby and Deputy Director of Preparedness, Mr Omar Afflick, visited both schools in the first week of December to brief staff on the principles of earthquake mitigation and hazard reduction, and to show them how to organise a drill.
"We have to think about safety all the time. We can't predict disasters, but if we prepare ourselves it will be easier to cope with the sudden onset of a crisis," she explained.
Dr Carby's agency hopes to see all businesses and schools do at least one emergency fire/earthquake drill per year. In this regard HMCI will roll out a comprehensive public education programme in 2008 that will span the entire year and will raise awareness for all disasters, not just hurricanes.
"Although hurricanes remain Cayman's main threat, we cannot discount the impact of other hazards. Preparedness should not be limited to national plans for disasters, but should start at home with a family disaster plan and earthquake and fire drills for the family," Dr Carby said.
For further information contact: Cornelia Oliver