Barbuda has been recognized under UNESCO’s Tsunami Ready program after completing work on evacuation planning, public education, warning procedures and community exercises.
The recognition makes Barbuda the 25th Tsunami Ready community in the Caribbean and the 125th worldwide, according to program representative Christa von Hillebrandt. At Wednesday’s ceremony, officials presented the Barbuda Council with a certificate and a plaque bearing the designation for 2026 to 2030.
Von Hillebrandt said the program’s 12 requirements cover three areas: understanding which places and people are at risk, preparing residents to evacuate, and ensuring warnings reach the community. Tsunami modeling identified safe areas on the island, including the grounds of Sir McChesney George Secondary School, she said.
Residents and students helped review evacuation maps, took part in an evacuation exercise and worked on an educational music video shown at the ceremony. Von Hillebrandt said an initial exercise went as far as Louis Hill, but the team determined that evacuees in that area could reach safety at the secondary school instead.
Junior Minister Kiz Johnson formally declared Barbuda’s upgraded tsunami early warning system launched. She said evacuation routes, warning equipment and community procedures had been put in place, but urged residents to know how to respond if an alert is issued.
“True resilience lives in our readiness,” Johnson said.
Barbuda MP Trevor Walker welcomed the recognition and called for a wave-monitoring station he said was installed around 2010 to be repaired. He said he understood it was no longer functioning.
Barbuda Council Chairman John Mussington said the designation marked the beginning of continuing work. He said Barbuda plans to participate fully in next March’s Carib Wave tsunami exercise.
“Being declared tsunami ready is just the beginning of a long process,” Mussington said.
Officials said the recognition must be renewed every four years, while drills, education and maintenance of warning systems must continue in the meantime.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Barbuda Recognized as Tsunami Ready Community.