On January 7 at 4:24 a.m a country was fractured in both terrain and spirits. The island of Puerto Rico suffered a 6.4 magnitude earthquake which has left much of the southern part of the island in shambles.

Men, women and children gathered in the streets fearing that their homes may cave in on them, while others had no homes at all. Due to sparse resources many people were forced to go without food, water or electricity. Although the island has been undergoing major tectonic activity since December 28, the catastrophic quake was still surprising.

Dozens of buildings, churches, and even the Punta Ventana natural attraction have succumbed to the quake, which claimed the life of one native. This added salt to the wound created by Hurricanes Irma and

 Maria in 2017, which destroyed lives, infrastructure and livelihood.

In recent times Puerto Rico has already racked up about 2000 earthquakes, 29 of which exceeded a 4.0 magnitude. 

The governor has declared a State of Emergency on the island, and the desolation of the southern portion of the island calls for relief, and hopes on getting assistance from the United States. This however, has been proving to be moving at a snail’s pace.

This exposes the infrastructural and economic vulnerability of the nation.

The island sits in darkness, as 300,000 out of their 1.1 million utility poles are down. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are filling up by the boatloads, but they are also in danger of crumbling apart. Hospitals so far have had to ask patients to evacuate, only allowing those in intensive care to remain. 255 shelters have become the homes of many natives, especially states such as Guanica and Guayanilla, which were most severely affected. 

Furthermore, several aftershocks have been shaking the island and neighbouring countries. The US Geological Survey confirmed that a 5.9 magnitude quake rattled the island again on January 11, followed by three more on January 14 with magnitudes of 5.2, 4.6 and 4.6. Tremors were felt in neighbouring states such as British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Saint Martin among others. 

Which state is next?

As families make the streets their bed and sleep in hammocks, perched on the banks of fear and apprehension of another massive quake and several aftershocks, perhaps this is a wake up call to other islands in the region?

While our hearts and prayers go out to Puerto Rico, the Caribbean islands, including Jamaica should really take this as a warning. Natural disasters and hazards are nothing new to the Caribbean region and the landscape and geography are similar for many states. Jamaica also sits in the Greater Antilles with Puerto Rico only 704 miles away. If the same were to happen to Jamaica, how would we cope?

Are our building codes properly regulated to mitigate casualties in the event of a quake? 

We should seek to invest in new building solutions and technologies that can withstand major tectonic activity, and apply heavy sanctions for any infringement. Disaster preparedness must be taught in schools, community centres, and workplaces, and a disaster relief fund must be in place so that we aren’t left in the wind when mayhem strikes. There ought to be more places of safety, and more efforts to relocate people who squat in locations that are particularly vulnerable to disasters.

Earthquakes are an enigma. No one knows when they will strike, but we can predict seismic activity and take precautionary steps. More attention ought to be placed on research in seismology, perhaps by strengthening the Earthquake Unit at the UWI Mona campus, so the government and public can be made aware of these natural occurrences.

Should we rely on international aid when trouble strikes?

Strengthening diplomatic relations can also be on the checklist, but governmental and personal initiative are essential. Even the government can only do so much and no more, so homeowners must design their disaster preparedness plans and invest in insurance policies in the event of injuries. They should also ensure that their homes are well constructed and have evacuation plans in place. There is also the great invention of the Internet. YouTube is no short of videos, while Google has tips to last for days. 

We live in an ecological apocalypse and it is imperative that as we pray and send aid to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, we also take a leaf from their book. We need to clean up our act in pursuit of collaborative efforts from citizens and government as we live in this evolving environment.

–Tamoy Campbell