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SOAPBOX TIME:
I'm going to talk a bit about why early warning systems save LIVES, and why we have to prioritize this, especially as a small island in a hurricane-earthquake-tsunami zone.
Fair warning: I won't be mincing words, and I will be talking about death.
I'm going to talk a bit about why early warning systems save LIVES, and why we have to prioritize this, especially as a small island in a hurricane-earthquake-tsunami zone.
Fair warning: I won't be mincing words, and I will be talking about death.
We've been really complacent in JA because it's been a while since we've had a REALLY bad disaster. Since the Port Royal earthquake in 1692 and Kingston in 1907 were so long ago earthquakes don't really cross our mind that much
This year we felt a couple extra tremors...
This year we felt a couple extra tremors...
...and I'm pretty sure NONE of us responded with the correct safety protocols. MOST of us just came on Twitter to see if we were imagining things.
But what happens if there was no Twitter? What about the people that don't have social media? Or access to news?
But what happens if there was no Twitter? What about the people that don't have social media? Or access to news?
Let's take it one step further. Imagine a scenario
It's 3AM and there's an earthquake off the coast of Haiti. A couple people out east in Portland and St Mary feel it, but nothing strong enough to alert any attention.
It's 3AM and there's an earthquake off the coast of Haiti. A couple people out east in Portland and St Mary feel it, but nothing strong enough to alert any attention.
Let's say that earthquake then triggers tsunami action. Most of us are asleep, unaware of the alerts that might be going off at seismology centres. We're not checking Twitter, or have the radio on.
Given how unpredictable tsunamis can be, maybe the effects will reverberate all along our southern coastline, and not just the East.
So there we are...asleep. And the waves come. Nothing to wake us up. No alarm, no alerts. Just asleep.
So there we are...asleep. And the waves come. Nothing to wake us up. No alarm, no alerts. Just asleep.
Any fishermen at sea or on the cays will be first to die. Then people living along the coastline in Portland, St Mary, St Thomas. Residents, tourists, families, communities. Washed away and dead.
Port Royal and KSA? Underwater. Downtown Kingston drowned. BOJ, Parliament, all the HQ buildings, underwater.
Some of us will be far enough inland that we will still be asleep.
Some of us will be far enough inland that we will still be asleep.
As people start to wake up, and people in distress start to wake others up, the magnitude of what is happening will start to hit us. People will panic. Some will know to head inland. Some won't. Ad hoc search & rescue teams will form.
It's only 4AM, still dark, many still asleep
It's only 4AM, still dark, many still asleep
By this time the news teams will have been alerted, so people tuning in will be getting early reports....but many still asleep. Many who may still be in harm's way because of the monumental influx of water. What happens to them?
They probably die, too.
They probably die, too.
By the time most of our alarms go off at 6, 7 or 8 AM it will be too late. Many of us will be dead, and won't have alarms to go off. Many will be waking up to find their loved ones dead. Many of us won't be waking up in homes at all.
And THAT is why we need Early Warning Systems, and to step up our Disaster Risk Management action.
We have existing systems for some rivers, to signal when the banks are overflowing. Think about Chalkie River the other day. What if JAH & others weren't there to evacuate people?
We have existing systems for some rivers, to signal when the banks are overflowing. Think about Chalkie River the other day. What if JAH & others weren't there to evacuate people?
(Almost done)
I'm definitely not an expert in disaster risk management, so I'm not claiming any expertise other than observing and working in sustainable development...and LIVING ON A SMALL ISLAND AND NOT WANTING TO DIE.
I'm definitely not an expert in disaster risk management, so I'm not claiming any expertise other than observing and working in sustainable development...and LIVING ON A SMALL ISLAND AND NOT WANTING TO DIE.
-fin-
