Deputy Director of NDMD Contributes to Regional Tsunami Preparedness Workshop in Saint Lucia

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 2026 – Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Department (NDMD), Mr Jacob Ngumbah, has represented St. Kitts and Nevis at the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC) Manuals and Guides No. 86 (MG86) Multiannual Community Tsunami Exercise Planning Regional Workshop, held recently in Saint Lucia.

Mr Ngumbah served as both a facilitator and presenter in his capacity as Chair of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System (ICG/CARIBE EWS) Working Group 4 on Preparedness and Response Capabilities.

The regional workshop brought together disaster management professionals, scientists, emergency responders, and technical experts from across the Caribbean and neighbouring regions to enhance community tsunami preparedness through collaboration, practical exercise planning, and the exchange of best practices.

As part of the workshop, participants focused on strengthening preparedness and response capabilities, improving coordination among national and regional agencies, and advancing strategies to build resilient communities capable of responding effectively to tsunami threats.

Reflecting on his participation, Mr Ngumbah described it as a privilege to contribute alongside an outstanding team of international experts representing UNESCO-IOC, the Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC), the International Tsunami Information Centre for the Caribbean (ITIC-CAR), the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC), academia, and regional emergency management agencies.

His involvement underscores the leadership role that St. Kitts and Nevis continues to play in regional disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness. By sharing expertise and collaborating with international partners, the Federation is helping to strengthen tsunami preparedness initiatives across the Caribbean while enhancing its own national disaster management capabilities.

The National Disaster Management Department remains committed to working with regional and international partners to improve preparedness, strengthen early warning systems, and build safer, more resilient communities throughout St. Kitts and Nevis.