The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is calling for participation in the annual Tsunami Exercise “Caribe Wave” on March 10, which tests aspects of tsunami readiness throughout the region.
The tsunami exercise is coordinated with the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency CDEMA, the regional body responsible for disaster management.
To signal the start of Thursday’s exercise, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii is expected to send a mock emergency message to the local Meteorological Office at about 10:00 a.m. after which an alert will be sent to the public via the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
Deputy Director of NODS Sherrod James wants schools and workplaces to test sections of their disaster plan especially relating to tsunamis and moving to safe areas.
According to NODS, the threat of tsunamis to the region is real and there have been significant efforts by disaster personnel to enhance tsunami preparedness in Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the region.
St John’s City and the districts of St. John’s City South and St City West have been declared tsunami ready through a UNESCO programme.
