GRAND CAYMAN (HMCI) The Cayman Islands will join other localities in the Caribbean as a participant in a tsunami response exercise on March 15, 2018. The purpose of this exercise is to evaluate local tsunami response plans and communications strategies, increase tsunami preparedness, and improve regional coordination.

“This important exercise will test the current procedures of the Tsunami Warning System and help identify operational strengths and weaknesses,” explained Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) Deputy Director of Preparedness, Danielle Coleman. The exercise, titled CARIBE WAVE 18, will simulate a widespread Tsunami Warning and Watch situation throughout the Caribbean, which requires implementation of local tsunami response plans. The exercise will include notification to the local media and representatives from various key Government Agencies.

The exercise specifically simulates a major earthquake and tsunami off the Caribbean coast of Columbia at 9am on March 15, 2018. According to Danielle Coleman, “One of the challenges of rapid onset threat events like a tsunami is getting the warning out to the public efficiently and effectively. A broad based Emergency Alert System is in development for the Cayman Islands, but it is not ready yet, and until the system is fully established, HMCI and other first response agencies continue to rely on more traditional communications vehicles to get the information out.” This exercise will again test established mechanisms and attempt to optimize existing communications capacities to get public safety messages out efficiently.

The exercise is sponsored by the UNESCO/IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS), the Caribbean Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Centro de Coordinación para la Prevención de los Desastres Naturales en América Central (CEPREDENAC), and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
(HMCI)