US$6.5m project a boost to Caribbean’s early warning services, says WMO
Tamoy Ashman / Our Today
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says the Caribbean is better prepared to tackle the hurricane season following a three-year US$6.5 million project to strengthen weather, water, and climate services.
Following the devastating effects of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, the project, dubbed Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Early Warning Services in the Caribbean, was established to address the gaps in early warning systems that were identified during an assessment of members of the regional bloc and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) “with the ultimate goal of saving lives and incomes”.
According to the World Bank, the Caribbean is vulnerable to hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural disasters, which cost the region over US$1.6 billion in damages.
As such, through the project, Caribbean countries were equipped with tools that included the development of a Strategic Roadmap for Advancing Multi-hazard Impact Based Early Warning Systems.
“Advances in science and technology make it possible to forecast hazards and disseminate warnings, but more can be done to strengthen understanding of the potential impact of complex hazards so that countries and communities can take appropriate anticipatory action,” said the WMO.
Additionally, policies and legislation were developed in Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
A common alerting protocol was also established in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, and Turks and Caicos, and the development of the Caribbean Severe Weather Case Database.
Another three-year project, valued at US$7 million, was approved in June to strengthen the multi-hazard early warning system.
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