Registration is now officially open for the Caribe Wave Tsunami Exercise, set for Thursday, March 19, with emergency officials urging widespread participation as part of ongoing national disaster preparedness efforts.
The annual exercise forms part of a regional initiative designed to test tsunami response plans and strengthen coordination among emergency agencies, businesses, schools and community organizations. While it is a simulation, officials stress that the drill plays a critical role in assessing readiness and identifying gaps in communication, evacuation procedures and public awareness.
The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is encouraging organizations across Antigua and Barbuda to register their teams and actively take part in the exercise. Participants will be required to review and practice evacuation procedures, move to designated safe zones and account for team members as they would during a real emergency.
“Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility,” disaster officials have repeatedly emphasized, noting that early warning systems and well-rehearsed response plans can significantly reduce the risk to life in the event of a tsunami.
Organizations wishing to participate can contact the NODS Office at 462-4206 to register. They will need to provide the name of their organization, the number of participants involved and their designated safe zone.
Authorities say the Caribe Wave exercise offers a valuable opportunity to build a culture of safety and resilience, particularly for coastal communities that could be most vulnerable to tsunami threats.
With the Atlantic hurricane season only months away, officials are also using the initiative to remind the public that disaster preparedness should be ongoing, not seasonal.
The message is clear: when it comes to emergencies, practice today can save lives tomorrow.
Only now they advertising for volunteers? That should have happened since the start of the year