Thirty-two countries* will participate in a full-scale tsunami alert exercise in the Caribbean on 20 March 2013. The goal is to test the reaction capacity in countries of the Caribbean and adjacent regions, including the East Coast of Canada and the United States, the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda. The exercise was organized under the auspices of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

Government of BVI (GIS), BVI, October 29th, 2012 - The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, with financial support from the Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean Region (ERC) Project is hosting a stakeholders meeting to discuss the data needs for the DEWETRA Platform and how it can be used within the Caribbean context.

Effective disaster management not only reduces rebuilding cost and ensures the continued operation of Caribbean countries in the event of disaster, but enhances the quality of life for our citizens.

Disaster management planning is therefore A critical investment for all Caribbean communities. This was strongly emphasized by Ms Velda Octave-Joseph, CDEMA’s Community Disaster Management Specialist who provides support to Participating States to strengthen disaster resilience at the community level.

DESTACADOS:

 TEMPORADA DE HURACANES: Tormenta Tropical Isaac causa inundaciones y deslaves dejando 8 muertos.

 VENEZUELA: Más de 2,135 personas fueron evacuadas en el Estado de Sucre por las lluvias.

 EL SALVADOR: Sismo de 6.7 grados causa alarma entre la población. No se reportan daños.

Tuesday, May 22 - The United Nations Development Programme for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), through its Regional Risk Reductive Initiative (R3i), is hosting a three-day capacity building workshop to train participants in the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for disaster management, land use planning and development.

GIS Officers Kahrim Skelton of the Town and Country Planning Department and Dillon Robin from the Water and Sewerage Department are participating in the workshop which commenced on Monday in the Cayman Islands.

Monday, January 30 – Dr. Zoran Vojinovic, an Associate Professor of Hydroinformatics at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute for Water Education (IHE) in the Netherlands is currently analysing the flood hazard areas of the Virgin Islands.

Wednesday 30th 2011 - An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 3.26Md on the Richter Scale was felt throughout the Virgin Islands at approximately 1:48pm yesterday afternoon. The final report indicated that the epicenter was located near 18.5N and 64.6 West or 20km North of Road Town at a depth of 20Km. Upon speaking with the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, have not revealed any damage pertaining to the earthquake or the need for a tsunami bulletin to have been issued.

The Antigua and Barbuda meteorological service has issued a flash flood watch for low lying and flood prone areas of Virgin Islands valid from 11 a.m. Today until 8 p.m. this evening.

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to moderate to major flooding in low lying and flood prone areas.

Current Location: 20.8N/66.3W

Geographic Reference: 165 miles north of San Juan, PR

Movement: Northwest at 9 mph

Maximum Winds: 60 mph gusting to 75 mph

Forecast

Maria will continue moving to the northwest over the next 24-36 hours, then begin a gradual turn to the north on Tuesday. Maria will then increase in forward speed and turn to the northeast by late Wednesday. On this track, Maria will pass west of Bermuda early Thursday, then near Newfoundland late Friday.