NEMO releases ‘Know the Tsunami Warning Signs Video’

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) released a ‘Know the Tsunami Warning Signs Video’ yesterday to commemorate “World Tsunami Awareness Day.”

This video was produced locally by NEMO in collaboration with a number of popular local Soca Artistes, through funding from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) under the Country Directed Fund (CDF).

The National Emergency Management Organisation also held an exhibition at the car park next to the Postal Corporation Building yesterday to heighten awareness on tsunami and other geological hazards such as landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruption.

The UN General Assembly designated November 5 as the annual day for spotlighting tsunami risk. This worldwide event is supported by the Government of Japan, and is used as an opportunity to showcase good practices related to Tsunami.

Tsunamis are rare, but their impact can be extremely deadly and devastating. Tsunamis are often accompanied by natural signs: FEEL, SEE, HEAR. Knowing the warning signs are important and community and individual understanding about how and where to evacuate before a wave strikes can save lives.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) is currently involved in a Tsunami SMART Schools and Communities Project in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Ministry of Education and the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) with funding from the European Union through CDEMA’s Country Directed Fund.

Through this project, the National Emergency Management Organisation is working with six schools (The Kingstown Anglican School, Clare Valley Government School, Colonaire Primary School, Union Island Secondary School, Mary Hutchinson Primary School and Stephanie Browne Government School) to develop Tsunami Evacuation Plans.

The project is also piloted in the communities of Rose Place and Union Island. Residents, business operators in these communities and surrounding areas and also the staff and students of the beneficiary schools under this project were trained in Tsunami Science and developing tsunami evacuation plans and procedures for their businesses, schools and the communities.

The Tsunami SMART Schools and Communities Project will end in December 2018 with the placement of tsunami signs in the beneficiary communities.