Bridgetown, July 24, 2019 –Barbados – Twenty-five (25) representatives from across CDEMA’s 18 Participating States are benefiting from a Regional Tsunami Technical Training Workshop being held in Barbados from July 23 to 26, 2019. The workshop is an activity of a project where Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago are direct beneficiaries. However, all 18 member countries of CDEMA stand to benefit from the project’s outcome of an enhanced Regional Tsunami Hazard Plan.
The
workshop is being hosted by CDEMA with funding from the European Civil
Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations DIPECHO Project with technical support
from the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United National
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO/IOC), the Caribbean
Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) and other partner agencies.
Manager
in the US National Weather Service (NWS) Caribbean Tsunami Warning Programme,
Christa G. von Hillebrandt-Andrade highlighted that the United Nations declared
2021-2030 as a Decade of Ocean Science
for Sustainable Development. It is therefore fitting that the Caribbean
capitalize on ways to transform tsunami warning systems, reduce loss of life
and protect its economies. “This workshop is great opportunity to review the
NWS products, increase understanding of support in development and
strengthening of national and regional procedures”, said Hillebrandt-Andrade.
Programme
Manager for Preparedness and Response at the CDEMA Coordinating Unit, Joanne
Persad said, “Over the years, the CDEMA Coordinating Unit has been engaged in
enhancing regional readiness for tsunamis via a series of projects and
programmes in disaster planning at the regional and national levels through
simulation exercises all done in collaboration with several partners.”
“The
Regional Tsunami Hazard Action Plan is an annex to the Regional Coordination
Plan which will eventually aim to benefit all Participating States, adding to the
comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework”. Persad implored
participants to exchange tools, ideas and lessons learnt during the workshop as
they all have a vital role to play in building on the CDM Framework.
Participants will be exposed to a suite of enhanced operational tsunami forecast products and contribute to the finalization of the Regional Tsunami Hazard Plan as well as the Model National Tsunami Warning Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Release: CDEMA