CMO Supports Turks and Caicos in Strengthening Early Warning Communication
- Vivian Tyson, NewslineTCI Editor
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
The Turks and Caicos Islands is taking steps to strengthen its disaster communication systems through a collaborative exercise involving the TCI National Weather Service, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, and the Government Communications Directorate.
The initiative is being supported by the Caribbean Meteorological Organization and is aimed at improving coordination, communication, and understanding among agencies responsible for issuing warnings and information during emergencies.
Haley Anderson, Project Development Officer at the Caribbean Meteorological Organization and Kerri Cox, Communication Strategist, Nudge and Narrative and CMO Consultant were the facilitators of the workshop.
Anderson, explained that the exercise builds on a regional workshop held earlier this year in Trinidad.
“We are trying to assist the authorities here in the TCI to strengthen their understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities in early warnings, but also to help them improve the coordination and communication processes that they would be utilizing,” Anderson said.
He noted that the exercise stemmed from a January regional workshop that brought together representatives from meteorology, disaster management, and the media from across the Caribbean to discuss similar issues at a broader level.
According to Anderson, the in-country exercise was organized following a request from Dr. Holly Hamilton, Director of Meteorology at the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority.
“The CMO decided that it would be a good idea to support the TCI to have a similar type of activity in-country in a face-to-face manner,” Anderson further noted said.
He described the discussions and participation throughout the exercise as highly productive.
“It has been truly insightful. The participants have been very active. The discussions have been very fruitful,” He said. “We’ve identified a lot of opportunities for improvement. We’ve come up with several recommendations on how to address some of the communications bottlenecks and choke points that exist.”
One of the next steps will involve developing emergency message templates that can be used during urgent situations when time is limited, helping agencies communicate more effectively and efficiently.
Looking ahead, Anderson said the goal is to ensure the Turks and Caicos Islands can provide timely and effective warnings to residents despite limited resources.
“We want to enable them and also for them to serve as an example to other countries in the Caribbean that in spite of size, in spite of resources, they are able to deliver effective warnings to their population that reach even the most vulnerable populations, that reach the last mile of communications,” He said.
Anderson emphasized the importance of strengthening warning systems in a country highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones, tropical storms, hurricanes, and other natural hazards affecting the Caribbean region.