Staff WriterWHO: The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) requests coverage for the following event:
WHAT: Annual Earthquake Awareness Week Open Day
WHERE: Fort Charles, Port Royal
WHEN: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Jamaica’s location along the northern margin of the Caribbean Plate and the presence of very active faults on the island makes it very vulnerable to earthquakes.
To create greater awareness of this threat to the country, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will be observing January 11-17, 2009 as Earthquake Awareness Week under the theme: “Earthquakes Have No Season: Do Your Part … Be Earthquake Smart!”
A series of activities have been planned to commemorate the Week, aimed at increasing the general awareness of the Jamaican public to the importance of preparing for an earthquake. One such activity is the ODPEM’s annual Earthquake Awareness Week Open Day being held on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at Fort Charles, Port Royal, itself a testament of the effects of an earthquake having survived the Great June 7, 1692 Earthquake.
The Open Day coincides with Earthquake Awareness Day in Schools, an annual hazard awareness day created specifically to better prepare our nation’s children, through schools, for an earthquake. On this Day schools are encouraged to involve their students in earthquake awareness activities such as creating original items in song, dance, drama and poetry to express themselves and their vulnerabilities to earthquakes.
The activities for the Open Day will feature exhibits from several of our partner agencies and companies and talks given by the ODPEM. There will also be guided tours of the Fort and the museum during which students will have an opportunity to learn more about the earthquake history of Port Royal.
jamarch
