Two massive 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes that hit Venezuela (see related story) serve as a tragic reminder that hurricanes are not the only natural threat in the region. Video footage and photos from the capital Caracas showed various collapsed buildings, suggesting multiple casualties.
Although St. Maarten has so far been spared any significant tremors, they occur frequently in this area and some do cause damage. Perhaps best known is the one of 2010 in Haiti, which killed thousands of people and displaced many.
The latter had a magnitude of 7.0, so similar or even more devastating consequences can be expected from Tuesday evening’s seismic event on the north-east coast of South America. It was also felt in among other places Colombia and the so-called ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao).
Locally, in addition to withstanding tropical cyclones, especially big buildings should be made quake-resistant. The ongoing St. Maarten General Hospital (SMGH) project and reconstruction of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) are positive examples.
However, further adjusting building codes and requirements seems in order to ensure the country is better able to survive such major disasters including possible tsunamis. The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI is reportedly working on this.
As again pointed out by the Central Bank in Wednesday’s newspaper, the planned Disaster Resilience Fund (DRF) is a step in the right direction. Together with coverage from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), it will provide financial means for recovery efforts.
While calamities can’t always be prevented, preparing for worst-case scenarios is the way to go.
