Deputy Director of NODS Philmore Mullin told the AntiguaSun that this workshop is the culmination of a regional programme which started some two years ago.
"The programme started with our regional partners identifying the gaps in our earthquake preparedness through a survey which was conducted. After that, we embarked on a Public awareness campaign to inform and advise the general public and the relevant stakeholders along with the introduction of an interactive Earthquake Awareness Kit."
Mullin added that immediately after yesterday's opening ceremony was followed by a training workshop for members of the media, the Ministry of Education, the trade union congress and other members of the sector geared at reinforcing earthquake safety practices among the critical audience, and analysing issues aimed at promoting compliance among various target groups.
"This is just the end of phase two; phase three will be focussed on earthquake hazards in Antigua and Barbuda and developing strategies to ensure that critical facilities are designed and built in a manner that will stand up to earthquake of a particular magnitude and we also encourage homeowners to do the same".
Acting Programme Manager of CDEMA Andria Grosvenor also pointed that the Earthquake Readiness Capacity Building (ERCB) project seeks to enhance the capacity of CDEMA Participating States to prepare for and respond to earthquake events and with recent events across the region and internationally.
She explained that the need to comprehensively address this hazard should become as much a priority as preparing for hurricanes. Moreover, through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the organisation is now implementing a Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards (TCHWS) project to address education and awareness as well as warning, information and dissemination for the tsunami hazard.