Jamaican emergency officials are intensifying public education efforts on earthquake safety protocols as the nation observes Earthquake Awareness Week. Superintendent Emeleo Ebanks, Education Officer at the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), emphasized the critical importance of maintaining composure and implementing preventive measures during seismic events during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ session.
Ebanks stressed that prior preparation serves as the most effective antidote to panic during disasters. ‘Don’t panic. I know that’s the easiest thing to say and the most difficult thing to do, but prior preparation will ensure that, as much as possible, you don’t panic,’ the senior fire officer stated.
The JFB official provided specific guidance for various scenarios, warning against the instinctual reaction to flee buildings during shaking. Instead, he recommended the ‘drop, cover, and hold’ technique until vibrations cease, followed by orderly evacuation. Motorists on bridges should safely exit the structure before stopping, while pedestrians in urban areas with tall buildings should quickly move to spaces where collapsing structures cannot reach them.
Home preparedness measures include removing heavy or hanging objects from walls, particularly in bedrooms, where falling items could cause severe injury or death. Ebanks highlighted that these objects often become dangerous projectiles during seismic activity.
Post-earthquake procedures include immediate head counts to ensure family safety and designated individuals contacting emergency services only when absolutely necessary to avoid overwhelming communication systems. The JFB, in collaboration with other government agencies including the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), continues to promote public education as fundamental to national disaster readiness under the theme ‘Resilient Jamaica: We Weather the Storm and Brace for the Shake.’