What to do in an Earthquake

Except for pictures on the News Barbadians have lived unaffected by Earthquakes. When Barbados experienced a tremor late last year most people did not understand what was happening. Earthquakes are caused by the movement of plates (huge slabs of rock) making up the surface of the Earth. In volcanic islands, earthquakes may also be caused by the movement of magma beneath a volcano.

The Seismic Research Unit of the University of the West Indies has issued some personal safety guidelines which we should pay attention to now in case we are caught ib another such event whether inside or outside Barbados:

• stay calm, do not panic, be alert
• if inside stay inside, do not run out of the building
• if inside stand in a strong doorway or get under a sturdy desk, table or bed and hold on
• do not use elevators or stairs
• move away from windows, mirrors, glass doors, pictures, bookcases, hanging plants and heavy objects
• if outside and there are no obvious signs of danger nearby, stay there
• if outside, stay away from glass buildings, electricity poles and bridges
• if in a car do not stop on or under a bridge
• always look out for falling plaster, bricks, lighting fixtures and other objects

For more information on earthquakes contact http://www.uwiseismic.com/