Poor participation in Tsunami exercise!
In addition, the tsunami and earthquake exercise will allow the different agencies to identify any shortcomings which will need to be addressed in case an actual tsunami impacted the territory.
The warning started at 10:14 A.M. and persons were asked to make their way to higher grounds by firefighters in a Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue vehicle.
In addition, an officer made the announcement via a megaphone instructing persons from the Government Administration Complex and neighboring businesses to make their way up the hill located behind Bougainvillea Clinic.
After reaching to the top of the hill, the Social Security Board, National Health Insurance (NHI), Harney’s Law firm along with other government agencies began to take a roll call to ensure that all their employees were accounted for.
“Response was very poor”- law firm employee
Sharing the same sentiments, residents believe that more persons should have taken the exercise more seriously because it could have been a real tsunami.
In an interview with a representative at a law firm, who wished to remain anonymous, she stated that the exercise was “very good” but recommends that it is done more frequently.
She said, “The exercise was very good. However, the response was very poor and if it was a real Tsunami a lot of persons would have perished. People were still driving, walking. I think it should be a bit more frequent like every quarter. We don’t normally take it serious and for me it’s the first time doing it. The hurricane somewhat woke us up."
"Persons need to take the tsunami exercise seriously"
Speaking with another person from the corporate world, she stated that persons need to take the tsunami exercise seriously, while adding that persons are behave like how they behaved for hurricane Irma, they did not take it seriously. “They need to do better than that.”
Speaking with one young man, he stated that he did not hear the siren warning but he received a message from his telecommunications provider, Flow.
“I did not actually hear the siren but I saw the message come in on my phone. However, I just saw persons going about their business like nothing was happening. I though persons should have taken it a little but more serious. If they are behaving like this during a tsunami then they will probably behave like that when the actual tsunami comes,” he expressed.
Several schools also took part in the exercise, including the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), which had drills for both the Junior and Upper school students.
Meanwhile, Director of the Department of Disaster Management Sharleen S. DaBreo declined to comment when reached, saying she will issue a press release.
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31 Responses to “Poor participation in Tsunami exercise!”
Just like it was reported that Irma a cat. 5 hurricane was coming our area and many thought that it was not going to bear down on us and refuses to take the precaution measures.
Excuses excuses, you don't have electricity, children homework, work all day
but you have the resources to respond to "soo"
Sighhhhhh, I tell yuh!!!!!!
Public holidays... lunch breaks..some of us are working our a$$es off to rebuild and get some money back in the bank...any excuse not to be working here... the drill should be "were we aware of the alarm " if so contine ... if I know one is coming here I will certainly climb the highest hillside. ....Not rocket science !
Consequently, all practical actions should taken to mitigate the potential damaging effects of the natural disasters. Mitigation actions should include planning, preparing, educating and training ( drills, exercises), establishing wide spread modes of communication {radio, TV, phones (cell, land), internet, electronic and print media, sirens, bull horns......etc}. Suggest establishing a robust pubic education and outreach programme to educate the public on the potential dangers of natural disasters and actions that can be taken to mitigate their damaging effects. Moreover, this is probably already in the hurricane preparedness plan, but if no, suggest conducting a comprehensive, territory-wide table top exercise. Now is the time to get educated and prepared on what to do when a disaster strikes, not in the middle of an event. Preparing is the key and critical to survive and mitigate damages from natural disasters.