British Virgin Islands

                                                 Evacuation and installation of Tsunami Safe Location sign.

On November 2, 2021, the British Overseas Territory of the British Virgin Islands renewed its recognition for the second time as Tsunami Ready under the Pilot Community Performance Based Tsunami Recognition Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the (UNESCO/IOC) Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazard Warning Systems for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS). The British Virgin Islands had originally received recognition 2014 and renewed for the first time in 2017. As part of the regional efforts to develop an end-to-end tsunami early warning system, the British Virgin Islands fulfilled the Programme’s guidelines at the territory level; thus empowering its vulnerable coastal communities to take effective action in the event of a potential tsunami and save lives. Outputs included the creation of inundation and evacuation maps, as well as the installation of emergency communication systems and signage for evacuation routes, assembly points and tsunami hazard zones. The Department of Disaster Management also undertook extensive public education, conducted drills, and formulated an emergency operations plan (EOP). The renewal of the recognition of the British Virgin Islands as Tsunami Ready was supported by the UNESCO/IOC Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) and the International Tsunami Information Center Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR). The Tsunami Ready Programme incorporates risk knowledge assessment, preparedness actions and response planning with recognition being granted upon the satisfactory completion of a verification process confirming fulfilment of the guidelines.

British Virgin Islands Documents