Implementing Tsunami Ready: An Overview of the Community Awareness and Preparedness Program in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions
Description:
Over the past 500 years, tsunamis generated from different sources have affected the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions causing significant deaths and destruction. Tsunami preparedness is necessary to mitigate the effects of future events and the implementation of voluntary performance-based programs such as the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme is key to achieve this. The program, which was approved in 2022 after a decade of piloting, consists of 12 indicators categorized into Assessment, Preparedness, and Response. In coordination with national authorities, interested communities need to meet all indicators to obtain the Tsunami Ready recognition. One of the first steps of the implementation process is the identification of tsunami hazard zones following guidelines on numerical or non-numerical modeling approaches. The hazard assessment information is used to determine the population at risk, develop evacuation maps and signage plan for education and outreach and conducting exercises such as CARIBE WAVE. In parallel and informed by the hazard analysis, national and local emergency response plans are also developed. The completion of these indicators also enhances collaborations and communications between international emergency managers and tsunami service providers, scientists, community stakeholders, and national authorities.
The Tsunami Ready program has been supporting coastal communities in the Caribbean in the process of strengthening their preparedness and capacity development since 2011, with communities in 12 countries recognized to date in the region. This effort also contributes to one of the goals of the 2021-2030 United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Tsunami Program: 100 percent of communities at risk of tsunamis to be prepared and resilient by 2030. An overview on the implementation process, as well as ongoing efforts, challenges, and deliverables will be presented.
Session: The Future of Tsunami Science, Preparedness and Response [Poster]
Type: Poster
Date: 4/19/2023
Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade
Student Presenter: No
Invited Presentation:
Authors
Desireé Bayouth García Corresponding Author desiree.bayouth@upr.edu Caribbean Office International Tsunami Information Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade Presenting Author christa.vonh@noaa.gov Caribbean Office International Tsunami Information Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Stephanie Soto stephanie.soto@noaa.gov Caribbean Office International Tsunami Information Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Alison Brome a.brome@unesco.org Caribbean Tsunami Information Center |
Bernardo Aliaga b.aliaga@unesco.org Tsunami Program, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO |
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Implementing Tsunami Ready: An Overview of the Community Awareness and Preparedness Program in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions
Category
The Future of Tsunami Science, Preparedness and Response