safety steps

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗔𝗣𝗣 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟! 𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaN7nmQGOj9na4QhBa12

Theme: “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness.”

On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, observed annually on November 5, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service (ABMS) joins the global community in reaffirming our
commitment to safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and property from tsunami hazards.

The 2025 theme, “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness,” calls for renewed focus on strengthening early warning systems, community preparedness, and the institutions
responsible for keeping our nation safe.

For Antigua and Barbuda, this means investing in the
infrastructure and people of the ABMS—the country’s national authority for weather, climate, and tsunami warning services.

As the National Tsunami Warning Focal Point (TWFP) and the National Tsunami Warning Centre (TWC), the ABMS plays a central role in the regional and global tsunami warning network.

To effectively fulfill these responsibilities under the UN Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative, the ABMS must be equipped with:

• Modern, resilient facilities capable of withstanding major hazards;

• Reliable communication and monitoring systems that ensure timely, accurate alerts reach all communities and sectors; and

• Trained and adequately supported personnel to provide 24/7 operational readiness, research, and public engagement.

Investment in these areas is not optional—it is essential. A well-resourced ABMS ensures that every coastal resident, fisher, mariner, visitor, and business can receive timely warnings and take life-saving action.

Tsunami awareness is more than a yearly observance; it is a sustained commitment to preparedness, education, and capacity building.

Every second counts in a tsunami, and every investment made in early warning saves lives and protects national development gains.

Let us continue to work together—government, private sector, communities, and partners—to make Antigua and Barbuda truly “Tsunami Ready”, resilient, and secure.

Warm regards,
Dale C. S. Destin
Director, Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service
Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the WMO
Focal Point of Antigua and Barbuda to the IPCC
Core Member, WMO Standing Committee on Marine Meteorological and Oceanographic Services (SC-MMO)