The Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade CARIBE EWS and US CTWP October 20, 2016
1. Objective Provide an update on the status of the UNESCO IOC Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) World Tsunami Awareness Day Commemoration in the Caribbean 20 October 2016
Over the past 500 years more than 75 tsunamis have killed 4484 people Figure published in: von Hillebrandt-Andrade, Christa, 2013. Minimizing Caribbean Tsunami Risk, Science, Vol. 341pp. 966-968.
Then and Now 1867- US Virgin Islands 30 deaths 1918- Puerto Rico 140 deaths 1946- Dominican Republic 1790 deaths
UNESCO IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) 32 MS and 16 Territories (6 Associate MS of UNESCO); 16 SIDS
UNESCO IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) ICG XI Cartagena, Colombia, April 5-7, 2015 Next Meetings 2017: San Jose, Costa Rica and 2018: TBD
Meet our Caribe EWS Team Chair Christa von Hillebrandt- Andrade (USA) Vice Chairs Gerard Metayer (Haiti) Milton Puentes (Colombia) Paul Martens (Sint Maarten) WG 1- Monitoring and Detection Jean Marie Saurel (France) WG2 - Hazard Assessment Silvia Chacón (Costa Rica) WG 3 - Tsunami Related Services Antonio Aguilar (Venezuela) WG 4 Preparedness, Readiness and Resilience Patrick Tyburn (Martinique France) TT CTIC Business and Sustainability Plan Pedzi Grigori (Curacao, Kingdom of Netherlands) TT CARIBE WAVE 17 - Patrick Tyburn (Martinique France) TT Volcanic Activity and potential Tsunamis - Paul Martens (Sint Maarten- Kingdom of Netherlands) Group of Experts for Other coastal hazards - TOR and composition to be determined
CARIBE EWS Service Model is Community Centered
Communities Need and Want to Know Where to Go in case of a Tsunami Define the hazard and evacuation zones thru tsunami inundation modeling, 90 meter resolution in coastal bathymetry and topography is required, if not results are not reliable. If unavailable, Baseline tsunami zones (bathtub model) are used (eg. 30 m/1.6 km inland)
Tsunami Signage is Key for Awareness of Residents and Visitors of our Vulnerable Communities
Public Education and Outreach Materials with Consistent Messaging
Community Educational Outreach Activities
CARIBE WAVE Regional Tsunami Exercise is held every March Most Recent, March 17, 2016 331,000 participants, In 2016 every MS participated Scenarios developed with Local experts Communications and response plans tested Many MS extended their participation into communities Developing and promoting a culture of evacuation
Next CARIBE WAVE exercise March 21, 2017 Costa Rica Scenario Cuba Scenario Northeastern Antilles Scenario
PTWC Provides Threat Information and Countries Issue the Warnings US NWS PTWC issues an initial public tsunami threat bulletin or information statement within a couple of minutes of earthquakes above M 6.0 in the CARIBE EWS If there is a tsunami threat the initial bulletin is followed up within 15-30 minutes with an updated threat bulleting with forecasted wave heights; additional disaster decision support info sent only to officially designated Tsunami Warning Focal Points and National Tsunami Warning Centers PTWC 16
Seismic and Sea Level Data Contributions Key for Early Warning and Increasing Steadily Since 2006 Seismic Stations increase from 10 to 126 tsunami bulletins can be issued in 5 minutes instead of the previous 10-15 minutes. Sea Level Stations 5 to 78 stations tsunami detection dropped from 3 hours to 5-30 minutes
Tsunami Warning Focal Points, National Tsunami Warning Centers and Tsunami National Contacts MS is responsible for issuing warnings thru its Tsunami Warning Focal Point/National Tsunami Warning Center Tsunami National Contacts represent the Member States IOC Tsunami Program (Bernardo Aliaga) maintains the list of these designations TWFP Anguilla, UK TWFP USVI, USA TWFP Saint 18 Kitts and Nevis
Tsunami Response Plans and Standard Operating Procedures outline actions to be taken before, during and after a tsunami Response Plans
Tsunami Ready Community Recognition Program 52 Communities Recognized As of 2015 a UNESCO IOC CARIBE EWS Program 20
Caribbean Tsunami Information Center Established in 2013 thru an MOU between UNESCO and Govt. of Barbados Focus on: Organized several training and capacity building activities Development of outreach materials and Facilitating preparedness and awareness projects Office has not been staffed since beginning of 2016, but should reopen shortly thanks to funding from the IOC and Kingdom of the Netherlands
US NWS Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program Established by NOAA NWS in 2010 Located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico Primary Focus is supporting: Sea level, seismic and GNSS (GPS) monitoring efforts Standard Operating Procedures CARIBE WAVE exercises Tsunami Ready Program
World Tsunami Awareness Day Commemoration in the Caribbean 20 October 2016 Recommendations and Conclusions 100 s of thousands of lives and billions of dollars at risk in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions from Tsunamis Fortunately the Infrequency of the tsunamis has not disarmed us and CARIBE EWS with its Member States has made very significant advances Committed to continue developing the best tsunami warning system for the protection of lives and livelihoods Recognize the engagement of the Member States and their coastal communities and support of Donors Synched with Sendai Platform and UNISDR WTAD provides another opportunity to further advance CARIBE EWS