In an effort to increase the public’s awareness of seismic hazards in the federation, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has organized a seismic awareness campaign with aims to enhance our disaster readiness status.
The awareness campaign will be lead by Dr. Rod Stewart, a scientist from the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre in Trinidad that monitors earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis throughout the eastern Caribbean.
During a brief interview with ZIZ, he explained the purpose of his visit.
Dr. Stewart who is also the director for the Montserrat Volcano Observatory said that the campaign is organized to help reduce fatalities associated with a seismic impact.
This is Dr. Stewarts first time visiting the island of St. Kitts. He said so far the feedback has been good while also noting that persons have been addressing him via the media with many questions and concerns.
He said the most important phase of the awareness campaign focuses on educating children in the various schools across the island while adding that the team visited several primary schools earlier this week.
Dr. Stewart said visits to the primary and secondary schools prove that targeting students is essential for information sharing. The scientist, along with the seismic team and representatives from NEMA visited the Washington Archibald High School, the Cayon High School and the Basseterre High School on Wednesday.
The visits are expected to continue at the Verchild’s High School, Charles E. Mills Secondary, Immaculate Conception Catholic School (ICCS) Ski Academy and St. Christopher Prep on Thursday October 4.