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local Friday 24 March 2023
Carib Wave 23’s tsunami simulation training takes place on Aruba

(Oranjestad)—Yesterday, Hermans explained that in a study back in 2014 for
the annual tsunami region- climate change is influenc- countries around the world,
al exercise, Carib Wave 23, ing the effects on a global where they have already
took place. Different coun- scale and that this increas- established that every
tries from the Caribbean re- es the risk for all countries. country needs a concrete
gion participated simulta- Aruba participates in this plan and that they must
neously in this activity and training annually, and is also help reduce the risk of
Aruba was one of island one of the countries that a tsunami.
that executed this simula- aggressively participates.
tion yesterday morning. He indicated that in the In this study, it has been
past, it was only first re- shown that people often
The goal of this exercise is sponders that participate in leave the responsibility to
to recognize and promote this training, along with the first responders alone. How-
the efforts in preparations hospital. But now there are ever, Hermans pointed
for tsunamis in the Caribbe- several hotels and schools out that if a tsunami does
an and nearby regions. Ev- that also participate. Ad- indeed ever strike Aruba,
ery year, UNESCO organiz- ditionally, 140 governmen- there will be around 40,000
es this training simulation in tal departments are also people who will be affect- “It’s true that hurricanes
order to monitor the prepa- joining in on the training ed by it, along with many call for attention. It’s true Hermans underlines that
rations from countries. In this year, because every buildings and structures on that that the hurricane pe- the early warning project is
other words, to check how department needs to know the island. He stated that riod is 6 months long, but a a very big project: it’s very
well-prepared these coun- what to do in emergency the commercial sector is on tsunami is very worrisome. costly, but this project does
tries are in the case of a cases where a tsunami is the south side of the island, If it wasn’t, UNESCO and not leave out infrastructure
tsunami. headed towards the island. which is the most vulner- the UN wouldn’t have or- nor lives. “The public needs
able part. ganized these training for to understand that the
For this training, there were He added that BRA trains the Caribbean islands,” he world is changing, and we
two different simulations for 24 hours for two consec- “Let’s not forget that a tsu- stated. need to be prepared for it.
executed, and every coun- utive days, along with the nami wave is one of energy In terms of the community First as a family, then as an
try that participated chose schools. The government and not wind. Wind waves and how they will receive organization and later as a
the scenario that fits with departments that also par- hit the coast and goes more information about country. Do not leave the
their own targets. The first ticipated have 5 years to back in, while an energy the tsunami, Hermans indi- responsibility to the gov-
scenario simulated a tsu- establish their emergency wave keeps pushing until it cated that there are vari- ernment or first responders
nami generated by a 7.6 plan to know what to do reaches a hill or mountain; ous trajectories that are alone, because after 10
magnitude earthquake in when a tsunami alert goes that’s when it calms down. taking place. For the next days, there will be no food,
the golf of Honduras. The off. Hermans also explained If a tsunami every hits the 12 months, the first execu- no dock, no airport. It’s
second scenario simulat- that the government was northern part of the island, tion phases will take place up to you to protect your
ed a tsunami caused by given 72 hours in advance it will go around the island to complete the project. family.”q
the eruption of the Monte to evaluate what they and go back in. The theo-
Pelée volcano. have already established ry that this will go towards
and what the agreements the Venezuelan coast and
In connection to this ex- are for simulation training. bounce back applies for
ercise, the director of the wind waves,” he explained.
Disaster Response Office Hermans remarked that the
(BRA), Rino Hermans, ex- infrastructure is the main Hermans highlighted that
plained during a press concern for them and that we cannot just assume that
conference for local news they will begin working on the first impact of a tsunami
outlets what exactly is tak- it this year. The director in- on the island will not be big,
ing place, which instances dicated that Aruba must because the moment the
are participating y how this be on an international level tide pulls in, the tsunami will
helps for future prepara- when it comes to prepara- come back and consume
tions. tions by 2030. This has al- everything in its way.
ready been determined