Earthquake drills for schools this Wednesday

Schools across Jamaica are expected to conduct earthquake safety drills on Wednesday, which will be observed as Earthquake Awareness Day in Schools.

It is part of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management's (ODPEM) earthquake awareness campaign, which was launched on Sunday under the theme 'Drop, Cover, Hold, Earthquake Readiness Is Within Our Control', with a series of activities scheduled until January 31.

The education ministry has advised school administrators to use the day to improve their schools' preparedness levels. The exercise will involve employees, teachers and students protecting themselves by using the 'drop, cover and hold on' safety procedure during a simulated earthquake alarm. The ODPEM will host a press launch for this year's campaign at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Earthquake awareness displays will also be mounted at parish libraries across the island on that day. On Thursday, private- and public-sector entities are encouraged to conduct earthquake safety drills. The ODPEM will be engaging in a drill to highlight its response/readiness to an earthquake on Friday. The ODPEM will also host an earthquake symposium at the Four Seasons Hotel in Kingston to discuss the entity's preparedness for seismic events. This will be held on January 24.

Activities for the campaign will culminate with a roadshow on January 31. This exchange will provide an opportunity for questions and answers on disaster events with members of the public.