Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) is recommending that measures be put in place to minimize the hazards that can be associated with an earthquake.
Just last week Tuesday, Dominica was affected by a 3.7 magnitude earthquake which worried citizens.
Bernard Francis of DOMLEC’s Commercial Department, said during a recent press conference that the country has to be on high alert.
“The Caribbean is very prone to hurricanes and earthquakes…earthquakes is not something that we talk about much, but of recent we have reasons why we need to be concerned and why we need to put measures in place in the event that the big one hits us,” he said. “The question is how can a person can prepare for an earthquake when they cannot predict when it is going to happen, where it’s going to happen and even the magnitude of such an earthquake?”
He nonetheless, mentioned a few control measures which can be put in place to minimize the hazards.
“We have a few things that we can consider,” he said. “We want to consider creating a disaster preparedness plan…for your home, for your workplace and even in schools.”
Francis added, “We want to prepare a disaster supply kit, basic supplies, food supplies for three days or more, we want to have emergency supplies such as battery operated radios, flashlights. The same thing we normally have in place for hurricanes.”
He went on to say that there is need to identify buildings with potential weaknesses or those that are potential hazards, “and we want to begin to fix them.”
Francis indicated that there are recurring incidents of earthquakes within the region and practicing emergency drills are important.
“We want to practice emergency drills – drop, cover and hold,” he noted, pointing out that items such as televisions and mirrors and equipment hung on walls, must be secured.
“We want to ensure that we fasten it to the walls in the event that an earthquake may occur,” Francis advised.
He said that heavy and breakable objects should be stored on low shelves.
“Stay inside and not outside. If outside ensure that you are in an open area away from trees, buildings, electrical lines,” he further advised.
Francis warns person that after an earthquake they should stay calm. “Be alert and cautious.”
“You want to check yourself and your family for injuries, you want to stay out of damaged areas,” he cautioned.
Thank you Mr. Francis for the valuable information on earthquake preparedness. I wish to also include the importance of prayer, and the need to ensure that our hearts and lives are in right standing with Christ, should an earthquake be the way He has choosen to take us home.
Continuation:
The point below the earth’s surface at which the energy is released is the earthquake focus, or hypocenter. The point on the earth’s surface directly above the focus is the earthquake epicenter. It is at the epicenter that shock waves are most strongly felt. The type of ground motion produced, and the damage occurring during an earthquake vary according to the depth of the focus, distance from the epicenter, and the nature of the of the local geologic material.
In a small tremor, the sensation produced ranges from a gentle horizontal shaking to one or more sharp jolts. Near the epicenter of a large earthquake, one has the feeling of being on a rough ocean in a small boat, with the ground visible rising, and falling in moving crests, and troughs similar to ocean waves.
Normally, the shaking lasts no more than a few minutes. Nevertheless; smaller after-shocks, most of the time amounting in the hundreds will continue over long periods, of days and months,…
Unlike volcanic eruptions which have restricted geographic distributions, earthquakes can occur anywhere; unlike most other environmental hazards, they occur without warning. By their direct, and indirect effects, including fires, flooding landslides, and tidal waves, earthquakes have caused more destruction and taken more lives than any other single type of natural catastrophe.
Earthquakes are slow distortion pf rock masses by tectonic stress causes a build -up of potential energy in the rock much as in a compressed, or extended spring. When the deformation, or strain, surpasses the elastic limit of the rock it ruptures suddenly, or slops along preexisting faults, releasing the stored energy in the form of seismic shock wave that speed outward from the point of rupture.
Several types of shock wave are involved, including rapid moving body waves of varying character that pass through the mass of the earth and slower surface waves that follow the earth’s outer skin. The surface…
Guy stop talking nonsense and find something constructive to do with your life!
How can you be on high alert when one cannot predict when an earthquake is about to occur! As long as Dominica is Dominica; there has always been earthquakes; and the reason for that is due to the amount of volcanic activity on the island.
Dominica sits on a ring of fire; possessing more volcanoes than any other island in the Caribbean! Earthquakes are not like hurricanes where you see them form, and can be tracked to where they are heading!
What sort of scientific research DOMLEC has done in your electricity generating plant which gives you this pseudo knowledge on earthquakes to advise to people.
Be quiet; the business of an electric company is specifically to provide the nation with electricity, and not even that your entity can do properly; yours is something private which should not be in politics, and should not have any business in peoples life; except provide electricity!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque but fella you always giving advice in all spheres of life matters and you dare tell Francis to “Guy stop talking nonsense and find something constructive to do with your life!” I want to say the same thing to you Francisco, ” Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque Guy stop talking nonsense and find something constructive to do with your life!”
How do you feel Francisco? You see I have told you that you are too proud and arrogant. You are versed in all disciplines. Politics, Religion and you name it. Yet you not want to listen to others. You do not tolerate others opinion and who have given you the authority to put words in people’s mouth. Apologise to the young man. He reads just as you.
Francisco
At least he is trying to raise awareness. You on the other hand, have coppied and pasted from the Internet and pretending that those words were your own.
Have a little more respect for academic rigour
Albert how do you do? Francisco just does not have respect for anyone.
Well, Albert, find the same information verbatim on the internet, and submit it here on DNO; embarrass me if you can, and stop talking crap! Cut and past the same information from where you believe I got,let me see if you can, it a challenge!
Man shut up!
I am learned, I am both collage and university educated; crack cocaine and marijuana did not give me my academics!
And so I challenge you to go on the internet find the same information verbatim and present it let’s see how smart you are, I am disappointed in, just shut up, shut up!
I do not have any respect for ignorant people, and people who do not respect me; I do not respect people who do not know me and try to defame and slander me!
I do not respect people who do not know me and try to take me down to their level!
An article is published: It is in a public forum where people are given the opportunity to respond, I do not write what people like to hear: I do not write for love or friendship, or to get anything from anybody!
I write comments according to the contents of what the author wrote, like it or not; that is my personal opinions! I do not care if someone counter me with something sensible to counter or contrast something that I wrote, but when a nobody comes along accusing me of plagiarism I don’t take that lightly.
Albert does not know me; how can he accuse me of plagiarism: Boy, I am too educated, and smart to sink low!
Take note people.
Disseminating tips for “What to do in the event of an earthquake” is necessary considering that we in the Caribbean are prone to this sort of disasters.
Noted be prepared
The older ones in the south dun ready for an earthquake in terms of drills although the younger ones probably forgot or weren’t born yet (so should have more drills..).. not took long ago,well… there were tremors in the south making that little 3.7 fell like child’s play…