SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — The majority of business places in this parish do not have an earthquake plan but the hope is that a three-month-long campaign by the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) will make people aware of what to do if the grou
nd begins to move beneath them.

George’s Mall in Savanna-la-Mar was a flurry of activity on Thursday as first responders did a drill as part of the WMC’s 2025 Earthquake Awareness Campaign.

The series of simulations began on Monday, January 13 with an earthquake-related mock explosion in downtown Savanna-la-Mar. The aim of each exercise was to raise awareness and teach residents the proper action to take during an earthquake and other disasters.

On Tuesday the group visited a number of business places in Negril, handing out posters and brochures while educating employees about proper earthquake response. Wednesday was branded as Earthquake Drill Day in schools across the parish.

The series is set to continue with a school tour during which the team will set up disaster awareness booths while conducting awareness exercises and drills, a first-time initiative. The WMC Earthquake Awareness Campaign will end on March 28.

“The aim of the Earthquake Awareness Series is to ensure that persons know what to do before, during and after an earthquake,” WMC Disaster Coordinator Marcine Campbell-Kerr told the Jamaica Observer.

She noted the absence of a safety committee for George’s Mall and the individual business places there.

“That is what we are going to be working on,” Campbell-Kerr said. “For this series of activities we are bringing awareness and we are also identifying the weaknesses and where we can capitalise on our strength as a corporation, as the local authority for the parish. Even for the businesses in Negril a lot of them, even though they had disaster plans for other emergencies like fire and hurricane, the majority of them didn’t have an earthquake plan.”

Westmoreland Fire Department’s Acting Divisional Head Oniel Henry told the Observer that while the earthquake drill at George’s Mall was a success, it revealed areas where improvements can enhance safety and efficiency. He outlined steps needed.

“One: evacuation plans — every business and institution should have a clear evacuation plan tailored to their specific environment. Two: emergency alarm systems — reliable alarm systems are essential to alert occupants promptly during a crisis. Three: employee training — regular training ensures that everyone knows his role during a disaster, transforming confusion into coordinated action,” Henry said.

“This drill highlighted that disaster preparedness is not luxury but a necessity,” he charged. “Earthquakes strike without warning and how we prepare today can mean the difference between chaos and survival tomorrow. Let us work together to create safer spaces, empower community and ensure that when disaster strikes, we are ready to respond. Preparedness saves lives; let us make it our priority.”

The most memorable tremor to impact Jamaica was the 1692 earthquake that sunk part of Port Royal and claimed many lives. The quake was felt across the entire island.

Last year was recorded as a very active one for earthquakes affecting Jamaica, with approximately 600 recorded. From this figure, 310 had epicentres on the island. The largest magnitude earthquake recorded locally in 2024 measured approximately 5.2 and was felt in a number of parishes across the country.