The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) in collaboration the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS) of the United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Caribbean Regional Stakeholders (CEPREDENAC, CDEMA, and EMIZ) will be conducting Exercise Caribe Wave 17.

The purpose of this exercise is to advance tsunami preparedness efforts in the Caribbean and Adjacent regions based on Northeastern Antilles (Costa Rica and, Cuba) scenarios.

Recent tsunamis, such as those in the Indian Ocean (2004), Samoa (2009), Haiti (2010), Chile (2010, 2014, 2015), and Japan (2011), attest to the importance of proper planning for tsunami response.

The exercise which helps to improve the effectiveness of Tsunami Warning System along the coasts of the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions provides an opportunity for NaDMA to exercise operational lines of communications, review tsunami response procedures, and promote tsunami preparedness throughout Grenada.

Exercise Caribe Wave 17 will be held on March 21, to provide simulated tsunami threat messages from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) based on a hypothetical… 7.9 earthquake located off the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, a Mw 8.2 earthquake located along the southeastern coast of Cuba and a Mw 8.5 earthquake along the Northern Lesser Antilles and affected the Northern part of Grenada.

NaDMA has invited entities along the sea coast of Northern Grenada including St. Patrick’s, Carriacou and petit Martinique and has received widespread support from businesses and home owners to participate in the exercise. The hope these communities would benefit from the opportunity to educate their families, staffs and customers on the effects of Tsunami.

Some entities will participate in full or partial evacuation drills or test communication within their respective institutions. Families are being also given information on tsunamis and encouraged to develop and test a Family Disaster Plan.

As per usual NaDMA is partnering with all media entities to facilitate the dissemination of the tsunami information. In order to avoid unnecessary panic, Nadma would reassure the public that this is an exercise by including Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! Before and after every message sent out on that day.

Exercise Caribe 17 Wave on March 21 is a tremendous opportunity for all of Grenada to take note.

Grenada’s performance in Caribe Wave 2016 was highlighted in Costa Rica as a best practice.