Ronald Jackson (second left), director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), in discussion with Colonel Trevor MacMillan (right), chairman of the ODPEM board of directors, Karlene Black (second right), scientific officer at the Earthquake Unit, and Michelle Edwards, senior director in the Mitigation, Planning and Research Division at the ODPEM, after a press conference held at the office's Camp Road offices in Kingston, yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Jamaica is not prepared for an earthquake, according to Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

Mr. Jackson was addressing a press conference held yesterday at ODPEM's Camp Road, St. Andrew offices, to launch 'Earthquake Awareness Week', which will be observed from January 13 to 19.

"Are we prepared in the event of an earthquake? We are not where we need to be. Not to scare Jamaica, but we still have some work ahead," said Mr. Jackson.

According to the ODPEM head; the country's location along the northern margin of the Caribbean plate, and the presence of very active faults on the island, make it very vulnerable to earthquakes.

Mr. Jackson said preparation must continue and training in search-and-rescue missions should be ongoing to eliminate the damage if such an unpredictable disaster were to occur.

"At the national level, we must build systems and capacities to have a greater chance of success when an earthquake happens," he said.

programmes

He noted there were several programmes currently being undertaken by the ODPEM in preparation for an earthquake.

They include enhancing a national shelter programme, not only for hurricanes, but for all disasters; finalising a national building code; training in mass casualty response; and, public awareness at the household and business levels.

Discussions are also being conducted with the German Embassy to establish a canine search-and-rescue training programme, Mr. Jackson said.

This year's Earthquake Awareness Week will be observed under the theme: 'For Safety's Sake, Be Ready for the Next Earthquake!'