Public Awareness
Knowledge of the earthquake and tsunami risks has not been widespread among the general public of the islands located near the trench.
Since 1988, the Puerto Rican Seismic Society has been trying to use the Puerto Rican media to inform people about a future earthquake that could result in a catastrophic tragedy.
Following the 2004 tsunami that affected more than forty countries in the Indian Ocean, many more people now fear of the consequences that such an event would bring to the Caribbean. Local governments have begun emergency planning. In the case of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the United States government has been studying the problem for years and is increasing its seismic investigations and developing tsunami warning systems. As of 2007, a study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) concluded that the possibility of a major earthquake to be high at 33–55%.
Read more about this topic: Puerto Rico Trench
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