TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Mar. 27, CMC – The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) says close to seven thousand people participated in the recent territory-wide earthquake and tsunami exercise.
The annual exercise aims to enhance emergency plans, update procedures, train new personnel in tsunami preparedness and response, and ensure the territory remains ready to face a tsunami threat.
This year’s drill focused on the National Early Warning Multi-Hazard Alert System, emergency communication technology, and inter-agency communication.
“We estimate there were 6,854 individuals who joined us to practise earthquake and tsunami safety procedures on their own, or with their families, colleagues, or schools,” said the Director of Disaster Management Jasen Penn.
The director emphasised that both the private and public sectors should have comprehensive disaster plans that are tested regularly.
He also noted that the DDM team is available to provide support and advice for those developing or testing their plans.
This year’s exercise simulated a magnitude eight earthquake off the coast of Jamaica, followed by regional and local alerts for a subsequent tsunami.
CMC/bv/kb/2025