Old Harbour Bay

On September 20, 2021, Old Harbour Bay, St Catherine, Jamaica was recognized as Tsunami Ready under the Pilot Community Performance Based Tsunami Recognition Programme being implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC) Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazard Warning Systems for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS). As part of the regional efforts to develop an end-to-end tsunami early warning system, Old Harbour Bay fulfilled the Programme’s guidelines; 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 for the community, as well as signage for evacuation routes, assembly points and tsunami hazard zones, and a public awareness video. The Community Emergency Response Team of Old Harbour Bay, the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management of Jamaica also undertook extensive public education, conducted drills, and formulated an emergency operations plan (EOP). The recognition of Old Harbour Bay as Tsunami Ready was supported by the International Tsunami Information Center Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR) and the UNESCO/IOC Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC). The USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs through ITIC-CAR provided the funding to support many of the activities. 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.

Old Harbour Bay Documents