Earthquakes, Landslides in the Caribbean

Mr. Bill Proeza, Regional Director of National Weather Service Southern Region and was head of the National Hurricane Centre in 2007. He was accompanied by Mrs. Christa von Hllebrandt-Andrade and Mr. Ralph Mojica. Mr. Proeza gave a power point presentation on earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes in the Caribbean basin. He noted that the Caribbean region is 1/5 the size of the north pacific but has more death during a tsunami. The last major tsunami happened in the Dominican Republic in the 1700s and killed 250 persons. The Caribbean beaches have potential life loss of 40%. The 20 foot tsunami of November 17, 1867 killed 30 persons in the USVI and today that same size tsumani will kill 25,000. There are two activities in the region that can affect us. Kick em Jenny and Kick em Jack. The US is setting up a center in Puerto Rico which will be able to assist the Virgin Islands. More information on Mr. Proeza and the National Weather Service can be found on www.SRH.NOAA.gov.