200 Earthquakes a Year and 850,000 Weekly Worshippers: Jamaica Gets a Quake Guide Written for Church Buildings

• ODPEM and UWI’s Earthquake Unit released guidelines for places of worship
• Jamaica records about 200 earthquakes a year
• More than 850,000 people attend worship services weekly
• The guide recommends annual building inspections and regular drills

Jamaica’s disaster agency has published new earthquake preparedness guidelines written specifically for churches and other places of worship, the Jamaica Observer reported on July 28, 2025.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) developed the guide with the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona. The island experiences approximately 200 earthquakes a year, and ODPEM said the scale of weekly worship made the work urgent. “With 69 per cent of Jamaicans affiliated with faith community (Statistical Institute of Jamaica, 2011), and more than 850,000 people attending weekly worship services, the development of this guide was classified as a national priority,” the agency said.

Places of worship pose particular risks. They are typically large, open halls with high ceilings and few pieces of heavy furniture people can shelter under, and they fill up at predictable times. The guidelines, available as free downloads on the ODPEM website, urge congregations to draw up preparedness plans, carry out annual building inspections, train members and staff, hold earthquake drills and set up clear communication procedures.

“This resource is an essential tool for faith-based organisations to improve their preparedness and response,” ODPEM said.

For church trustees, the building inspection recommendation is the one with a price tag and the biggest payoff. Many Jamaican sanctuaries were built decades ago by volunteer labour, extended piece by piece, and never assessed by an engineer. An annual check of walls, roof connections, gable ends, bell towers and overhead fixtures can reveal weaknesses long before a tremor does.

The same logic applies to anyone who owns or is buying property in Jamaica. Earthquake and hurricane resilience affects insurance, resale value and safety. Congregations that treat their building as a structure to be inspected and maintained, rather than a fixture that will always be there, protect both their members and one of the most valuable assets they own.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com