JULIA RAWLINS-BENTHAM/MAY 3, 2018

Early projections for the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season anticipate above- average activity, with 14 named storms – seven of which are likely to become hurricanes – and three major hurricanes.

With memories still fresh of the devastation left behind by last year’s Hurricanes Maria and Irma in the region, a greater focus is being placed on the planning process for the season this year.

As the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches, disaster management officials will have additional ways of alerting the public about impending weather conditions and other hazards.

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) was officially launched on November 10, 2017, and is designed to allow emergency officials to share alert messages with the population using various modes of communication.

Director of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Kerry Hinds, described the new CAP system as an innovation that would assist in the mass alerting process.

More people are seeking to find out about the earthquake and tsunami hazards and how they should get prepared.

That is the assessment of Director of the Department of Emergency Management, Kerry Hinds, as she gave a summary of the month-long activities to mark Tsunami and Earthquake Smart Month, themed: Road to Tsunami Recognition.

The tsunami risk in the region is real and should be taken seriously.

And, Director of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Kerry Hinds, has emphasised the need for public education and outreach programmes throughout communities in Barbados.

She made these comments last Friday during the unveiling of Barbados’ third Tsunami Smart Sign, which was erected in the Sherman’s, St. Lucy community.

By JULIA RAWLINS-BENTHAM

Holetown, St. James is poised to create history by becoming the first community in Barbados to receive the UNESCO internationally approved Tsunami Ready Certificate of Recognition.

Come Thursday, March 15, the western community will take centre stage in this year’s annual Caribe Wave 2018 exercise as it seeks to fulfill the requirements of becoming tsunami ready.