Barbuda recently completed a successful Tsunami Ready exercise aimed at strengthening community awareness, preparedness, and response capabilities in the event of a tsunami.
The May 26 – 28 initiative, led locally by the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), brought together local schools, disaster management officials, international experts, and community stakeholders in support of the island’s ongoing efforts to achieve and maintain Tsunami Ready recognition.
The Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) is an internationally recognized initiative that promotes community preparedness through public education, effective warning systems, evacuation planning, and regular exercises. The Tsunami Ready Exercise is the first step in ensuring that Barbuda can be categorized as “Tsunami Ready” – a recognition that acknowledges that a community has adopted mitigation measures to cope with their tsunami risk.
Activities commenced on May 26 with visits to Holy Trinity Primary School and Sir McChesney George Secondary School, where students and staff participated in discussions on tsunami hazards, preparedness measures, and evacuation procedures.
The sessions also provided an opportunity to engage students in the development of educational and social media content designed to raise public awareness about tsunami risks which will be incorporated into public awareness materials promoting tsunami readiness across the world.
The exercise culminated on May 28 with a community-wide tsunami evacuation exercise, primarily focused on the Holy Trinity Primary and Sir McChesney George Secondary Schools.
Participants practiced moving from designated tsunami hazard zones to safe locations, testing evacuation routes, communication procedures, and coordination mechanisms. The drill provided valuable insights into community response capabilities and identified opportunities for continued improvement.
“This exercise demonstrates the importance of community involvement in disaster preparedness,” said National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) Director Sherrod James. “By engaging young people and conducting practical evacuation exercises, we are helping to ensure that Barbuda remains prepared to respond effectively to tsunami threats.”
The exercise was supported by a distinguished team of local and international experts, including Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, Manager of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) International Tsunami Information Center Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR); Emiliano Rodriguez Nuesch, Director at Risk Communications Agency Pacifico and an expert in risk communication and behavioural science, and Diego Voloschin, Videographer.
They were joined by Alvah Guishard, GIS Specialist with NODS; Daryl George, Project Officer within the NODS Project Management Unit; John Mussington, Barbuda Council Chairman and consultant to the Barbuda Tsunami Ready activity, and other technical specialists supporting the initiative.
NODS expressed its appreciation to the administration, teachers, and students of Holy Trinity Primary School and Sir McChesney George Secondary School for their enthusiastic participation and commitment to building a culture of safety and resilience, as well as to the Ministry of Education for supporting this important initiative.