Statement from the Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service (ABMS) on the occasion of the World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025
Theme: “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness.”
On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, observed annually on November 5, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service (ABMS) joins the global community in reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and property from tsunami hazards.
The 2025 theme, “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness,” calls for renewed focus on strengthening early warning systems, community preparedness, and the institutions responsible for keeping our nation safe. For Antigua and Barbuda, this means investing in the infrastructure and people of the ABMS—the country’s national authority for weather, climate, and tsunami warning services.
As the National Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWFP) and the National Tsunami Warning Centre (TWC), the ABMS plays a central role in the regional and global tsunami warning network. To effectively fulfill these responsibilities under the UN Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative, the ABMS must be equipped with:
- Modern, resilient facilities capable of withstanding major hazards;
- Reliable communication and monitoring systems that ensure timely, accurate alerts reach all communities and sectors; and
- Trained and adequately supported personnel to provide 24/7 operational readiness, research, and public engagement.
Investment in these areas is not optional—it is essential. A well-resourced ABMS ensures that every coastal resident, fisher, mariner, visitor, and business can receive timely warnings and take life-saving action.
Tsunami awareness is more than a yearly observance; it is a sustained commitment to preparedness, education, and capacity building. Every second counts in a tsunami, and every investment made in early warning saves lives and protects national development gains.
Let us continue to work together—government, private sector, communities, and partners—to make Antigua and Barbuda truly “Tsunami Ready”, resilient, and secure.
Warm regards, Dale C. S. Destin
Director, Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the WMO Focal Point of Antigua and Barbuda to the IPCC Core Member, WMO Standing Committee on Marine Meteorological and Oceanographic Services (SC-MMO)