DDM Guides BVI Through ShakeOut Drill
The Department of Disaster Management is urging Virgin Islands residents, schools, and businesses to practice life-saving earthquake protocols during Exercise ShakeOut. The annual drill emphasizes the standard Drop, Cover, and Hold On procedure to build muscle memory for seismic emergencies. Officials also encouraged the public to review existing safety plans and provide feedback to disaster management authorities.
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has issued a call to action for residents across the British Virgin Islands to participate in Exercise ShakeOut, the annual preparedness initiative designed to test and reinforce earthquake readiness. The exercise focuses on teaching the public to instinctively execute the essential self-protection technique: Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
Disaster officials emphasize that knowing what to do in the first seconds of an earthquake can prevent severe injury. According to the DDM, participants should begin by dropping onto their hands and knees wherever they are. This low posture protects vital organs, reduces the risk of being knocked down by violent shaking, and allows individuals to crawl toward shelter.
Once in position, individuals must cover their head and neck with one arm and hand, seeking refuge beneath a sturdy desk or table. If no shelter is immediately available, participants should crawl toward an interior wall away from windows and heavy objects. Finally, individuals must hold on to their shelter until the simulated shaking stops, moving with the furniture if it shifts, or securing their head and neck with both arms if unshielded.
Situated near the active boundary of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates and adjacent to the Puerto Rico Trench, the Territory regularly records seismic activity. Disaster management officials maintain that frequent drills are crucial for turning basic safety protocols into automatic responses during sudden ground movement.
Beyond the initial 60-second drill, DDM highlighted several ways individuals and organizations can enhance their overall readiness. Recommendations include reviewing and updating comprehensive emergency plans, training newly onboarded personnel, identifying household hazards, and taking steps to earthquake-proof residential and commercial spaces by securing heavy furniture and fixtures.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to evaluate their performance following the drill and adjust emergency procedures where necessary. The Department of Disaster Management welcomes community feedback and inquiries regarding disaster preparedness by phone at (284) 468-4200 or by email at ddm@gov.vg.
Primary source: BVI Disaster Management