Bridgetown, Barbados, August 11, 2009 (CDERA): The first phase of a region-wide tsunami warning system is being finalised on Wednesday August 12, when technical experts meet at the offices of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) to assess and put the final touches to tsunami warning protocols for Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda.

Bridgetown, Barbados, July 22, 2009 (CDERA) - The Joint Project Coordination Committee (JPCC) of three projects being implemented by CDERA, met recently in Barbados to discuss progress to date and recommend actions to ensure the delivery of quality and timely outputs.

This meeting was attended by 19 representatives from the United States Agency for International Development/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), the CDERA Coordinating Unit and Participating States, regional seismic agencies and other technical experts such as the International Federation of the Red Cross …

Bridgetown, Barbados, June 2, 2009 (CDERA) - "The prediction for an average hurricane season is no reason to become complacent and not prepare," cautioned Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) at the Annual Press Conference, held today (June 2) at the CDERA Coordinating Unit (CU) in Barbados.

Compared to last year's predictions for a very active hurricane season, the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season is forecasted to have 11 named storms, 5 hurricanes and two (2) hurricanes reaching category 3 or above.

Collymore observed …

Bridgetown, Barbados, May 28, 2009 (CDERA) - Belize was struck by an earthquake this morning at 4.24 am (EDT) and an earthquake also occurred southeast of Dominica at 12.28 pm local time.

A magnitude-7.1 quake struck about 177miles off the east coast of Belomopan, Belize and 80 miles off Honduras. The epicicentre was located at 16.783°N, 86.165°W of Honduras and at a depth of only 6 (10km) miles. The quake was felt in Belize and there have been reports of six houses collapsing.

The quake off the southeast coast of Dominica was felt in St.

Bridgetown, Barbados, April 28, 2009 (CDERA) - The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency has been monitoring closely the swine influenza outbreak and precautionary measures being undertaken by governments in CDERA 16 Participating States. The regional leadership in this area is being provided by Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) who are in direct contact with the ministries of health officials.