CARIBE WAVE exercise continues to promote tsunami preparedness even despite the ongoing pandemic situation

The annual CARIBE WAVE exercise for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions has been improving and validating tsunami readiness since 2011. The 2021 exercise took place on March 11 in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Despite the ongoing coronavirus emergency implications, the UNESCO IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions decided to continue with the exercise. The CARIBE WAVE Task Team recommended for countries to plan and execute accordingly, and take into consideration national and CARIBE EWS COVID-19 guidelines.

The exercise included two components, communications from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the Regional Tsunami Service Provider, and evaluation of the tsunami procedures and programs within Member States/Territories. Two scenarios were tested: Jamaica and Northern Lesser Antilles.  The first scenario simulated a tsunami generated by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake located along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden Fault Zone (EPGFZ); the second scenario was a tsunami generated by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake located Northeast of the  Leeward Island.

Despite initial uncertainty on the level of participation due to the ongoing Covid-19 sanitary restrictions for CARIBE WAVE 21, 395,796 participants were registered thru the Tsunami Zone website (tsunamizone.org). The majority of the participants were from National, State, and Local governments, followed by preparedness organizations and K-12 schools. In addition to these sectors this exercise had the highest number ever of Non-Profit Organization, Museums/Libraries/Parks, Volunteer Radio Groups, and Media Organizations.

Social media platforms have been the primary source for communicating tsunami awareness, reaching over 2 million people worldwide for this exercise. This demonstrates that the CARIBE WAVE exercise continues to be effective in promoting tsunami preparedness even despite the ongoing pandemic situation.

For the first time a virtual Hot Wash was held after the exercise on March 23 to present initial results and receive feedback from the Member States.

Provided by Stephanie Soto and Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, NOAA Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program and Elizabeth A. Vanacore, CARIBE WAVE Task Team Chair, Puerto Rico Seismic Network, Dept. Geology, UPRM