Tsunami warning system proposed

Caribbean disaster response organisations are proposing that a Caribbean tsunami warning system be put in place.

This update was provided to Prime Minister Bruce Golding during a meeting with heads of emergency response organisations at Jamaica House yesterday.

Director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, told the prime minister that the nation would have between seven and 10 minutes to prepare for a tsunami resulting from an earthquake in Cuba, and 10-20 minutes to respond to a tsunami from an earthquake in Haiti. The Central Caribbean is prone to earthquakes.

The ODPEM is preparing a situation analysis and response evaluation for Cabinet that will outline how critical agencies will respond to a catastrophic earthquake.