SANTO DOMINGO – Earthquake preparedness begins long before the ground shakes. Evaluating buildings, strengthening institutional coordination, and raising public awareness are some of the actions authorities are seeking to implement in Bahoruco province to reduce seismic vulnerability.
The National Office for Seismic Evaluation and Vulnerability of Infrastructure and Buildings (Onesvie) reported that, through its Southern Delegation and in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bahoruco and the Municipal Council of Neiba, it will develop a work agenda aimed at strengthening risk management in the demarcation.
The initiative envisions the participation of public institutions, representatives of civil society, and professional sectors linked to construction and urban planning, with the purpose of promoting a culture of prevention in the face of seismic phenomena.
Prevention as the first line of defense
According to Onesvie, the "Voices that Prevent" seeks to raise awareness among the population about the importance of adopting preventive measures that contribute to protecting lives and reducing possible material losses in the event of an earthquake.
During a meeting held at the Provincial Government of Bahoruco, local authorities learned about the scope of the proposal and expressed their willingness to work together to strengthen the province's response capabilities.
The institution indicated that the program incorporates an educational component aimed at fostering knowledge about risk management and community preparedness, promoting prevention as part of citizens' daily lives.
An effort that involves the entire community
According to information provided by Onesvie, the event will bring together engineers, architects and surveyors, as well as directors of educational centers, representatives of private schools, neighborhood associations, merchants and media.
The participating authorities agreed that coordination between the different sectors is an essential tool to more effectively face the challenges associated with natural phenomena.
With this initiative, the entity seeks to strengthen the resilience of communities and consolidate a culture of prevention that will allow Bahoruco to be better prepared for possible emergencies of seismic origin.
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