Recent tsunamis worldwide confirm that when a tsunami arrives and communities are ready to respond, lives and livelihoods are saved. Tsunami early warning systems (TEWS) are coordinated globally by IOC-UNESCO, and play a critical role in protecting lives. The IOC-UNESCO-led Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE EWS) has focused on the establishment of regional institutions (a tsunami information centre and regional tsunami service providers) to support Member States in risk knowledge, technical monitoring and warning service, communication and dissemination of warnings, and community response capability regarding tsunamis.
Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC)
The CTIC provides education, outreach, technical and capacity building assistance to Member States, the public, partners and other stakeholders in preventing, preparing, and mitigating measures for tsunamis. CTIC manages post event performance surveys, serve as a resource for the development, publication, and distribution of tsunami education and preparedness materials and information on tsunami occurrences. The centre also supports risk assessment, mitigation activities and the work of the regional tsunami service providers.
Regional Tsunami Service Providers (RTSP)
In 2016 the ICG/CARIBE EWS approved the Tsunami Service Model which is supported by two regional tsunami service providers that monitor seismic and sea level activity and issue timely tsunami threat information within its Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) framework to National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWCs) /Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFPs). The NTWCs/TWFPs may use these products to develop and issue tsunami warning for their countries. TSPs may also issue Public messages for an ocean basin and act as National Tsunami Warning Centres providing tsunami warnings for their own countries. In the CARIBE EWS, the established RTSPs are the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Tsunami Advisory Center for Central America (CATAC).
