Bridgetown, Ӱ, October 29, 2009 (CDEMA) - An Earthquake Public Awareness and Education Campaign was launched on Thursday 22 October, 2009 at the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This Campaign is one of the major activities of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) implemented Earthquake Readiness Capacity Building Project.
Among those attending the launch were representatives from media, the CDEMA Coordinating Unit, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Education and FirstCaribbean International Bank, a long-time supporter of NEMO’s efforts in promoting risk reduction in the island.Excerpts from the multimedia resources for the earthquake campaign including an animated ‘Drop Cover and Hold On’ Public Service Announcement and one with regional real estate magnate, Sir Charles Williams were showcased at the launch.
The campaign launch also coincided with the start of a two-day workshop with local community workers and disaster committee representatives who were trained in the use of tools for promoting earthquake safety to various audiencesOver the two days of the workshop participants engaged in exercises designed to reinforce earthquake safety best practice and analyse issues towards the aim of promoting compliance among various target groups.
NEMO’s Director, Howie Prince, also shared some of NEMO’s plans for a comprehensive national safety programme that includes hazards hitherto not addressed, such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
Mr. Prince, in thanking the participants for their willingness to be the first to pilot this flagship programme, expressed his hope that the capacity built in the cadre of communicators trained in earthquake safety would be multiplied across each public and private sector institution across the St. Vincent & the Grenadines.
The products for the campaign were developed by the firm Right Angle Imagining Inc. & Associates on the behalf of CDEMA through financing from the Austrian Government.
Project Contact:
Ms. Shelly Pile
Programme Officer
Earthquake Readiness Capacity Building Project
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
Building #1 Manor Lodge Complex
Lodge Hill, St. Michael, Ӱ
Tel. No.: (246) 425-0386
Fax No.: (246) 425-8854