The Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) is hosting a regional workshop in Port of Spain where the prevailing thought is that it takes more than skillful forecasting to reduce risk.
Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), Dr. Arlene Laing, made it known upfront that no matter how good meteorologists get at forecasting, it will not reduce the risks of weather-related disasters.
“Risk is reduced when warnings are clearly communicated, trusted, and acted upon. This requires not only effective communication, but also recognises authoritative voices and institutions with legally mandated responsibility to issue warnings.”
She said in some parts of the Caribbean, there are gaps in legal authority, unclear mandates, and overlapping sources of information, which undermine the credibility and effectiveness of early warnings.
She is calling for the mass media to become part of the voice for informing and updating the public on risks and hazard reduction for vulnerable communities, because even the best of forecasts have had gaps.
“Where authoritative channels are not clearly defined, consistently reinforced, or legally supported, confusion can arise at critical moments. This weakens public trust and delays protective action and that is what we want to avoid. Devastating major hurricanes such as Melissa and Beryl in recent memory have demonstrated how even technically accurate forecasts and messages can still fail to prevent some harm.”
Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Anwar Baksh, said funding exists through a global UNDP proposal to support the implementation of activities to close the gaps that exist with multi-hazard early warning systems in the region, and that 2026 is targeted for implementation.
He said the implementation of proper communications is key to disaster relief and preparedness.
“This workshop comes at a pivotal moment, on the heels of the recently catastrophic Hurricane Melissa in the region that reminded us that we cannot do it alone—that we must speak to each other, that we must understand what is being said, and communicate effectively and accurately, with a key emphasis on the word accurately, to our population.”
The workshop brings together key stakeholders, including national meteorological services, disaster management agencies, and media and communication sector representatives, to enhance early warning communication systems across the region, and media participation is essential in amplifying its reach and impact.