Staged in a hybrid format with the kind support of the Government of the United States of America; though its International Tsunami Information Center Caribbean Office (ITIC-CAR), IOC-UNESCO and the Government of Curacao, the Summit brought together representatives of national disaster management agencies and meteorological services from across thirty member states of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS) and individual experts. Regional and international scientific institutions and development partners were also in attendance such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN), the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (SRC), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNDRR-Regional Office Regional Office for the Americas, UN Women, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the University of Montpellier Paul-Valéry/EA LAGAM, France, World Institute on Disability (WID), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and involved as presenters or panelists.
Delivering keynote remarks for the opening ceremony, Hon. Charles Cooper, Minister of Traffic, Transport, and Urban Planning of Curaçao, said the summit represents more than a ceremonial gathering.
“This summit is more than a meeting. It is a commitment to work together, to share knowledge, and to build stronger and safer communities for the future.”
Minister Cooper noted that while tsunamis occur infrequently, their impacts can be devastating. This underscored the need for sustained public awareness, coordinated planning, and continued investment in preparedness systems.
United States Consul General Ramón “Chico” Negrón indicated in his opening ceremony remarks:
“Our approach is clear: when disaster overwhelms local capacity, the United States stands ready to help. Effective disaster response isn’t just about resources, it’s about partnership. That is why we work closely with governments, regional organizations, NGOs, and increasingly, the private sector.”
Consul Negrón highlighted the importance of implementing the Tsunami Ready to prepare for and save lives from tsunamis. He noted the importance of the services provided by the US National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the International Tsunami Information Center and its Caribbean Office. He was pleased that the US was able to support the Summit and looked forward to an increase in the number of Tsunami Ready communities in the region.
In opening the ceremony, Mr. Matthieu Péroche, Chair of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS Task Team on Tsunami Ready, described the Caribbean as a region of diverse coastal settings and governance contexts, but united by common exposure to tsunami risk.
“Tsunami Ready is first about saving lives, today and tomorrow. But it is also about strengthening regional solidarity. Better-prepared communities are better able to support others after a crisis, contributing to collective resilience.”
He encouraged participants to use the summit to exchange experiences, address challenges, and develop practical recommendations to guide future action.
Welcoming delegates on behalf of the host country, Dr. Albert Martis, Director of the Meteorological Department of Curaçao and Tsunami National Contact for Curaçao, said the presence of specialists from multiple countries reflected a strong regional and international partnership in support of safer coastal communities.
“This summit provides us with a vital platform to continue our discussions on how best to prepare our communities, reduce vulnerabilities, and ultimately minimize the loss of life and property.”
Dr. Martis also expressed appreciation to supporting governments and partner institutions whose financial, technical, and logistical assistance helped make the summit possible.
Representing the global program perspective, Dr. Laura Kong, Chair of the IOC-UNESCO Tsunami Ready Coalition, highlighted progress since the first summit in 2010 and the continued expansion of the initiative worldwide.
“Today, we have nearly 110 recognized communities in about 30 countries around the world, and another 75 that are in progress.”
She reminded delegates that tsunami risk remains real in the Caribbean and adjacent regions, where damaging and deadly events have occurred throughout history, and stressed the importance of sustaining awareness and readiness across generations.
The agenda for the Summit included a review of regional implementation progress, identification of communities at risk, evaluation of program indicators, and discussions on inclusive approaches addressing the needs of persons with disabilities, youth, migrants, and gender-responsive resilience planning. Delegates also examined strategic links between the TRRP and broader regional and international early warning frameworks. Interdisciplinary breakout groups facilitated robust engagement on the TRRP.
The Summit concluded with twelve (12) recommendations for consideration by the 19th Session of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS 22 to 24 April 2026 which will help shape the next phase of implementation across regional Member States and ultimately the global coordination under the IOC’s mandate. Key Summit recommendations focused on supporting the sustainable financing of the Tsunami Ready Programme by Member States, while fostering collaboration with academic and research institutions. The enhanced inclusion of youth, elderly, differently abled persons, migrants, all genders and other diverse social groups and their organisations within the implementation of the Tsunami Ready Programme was also advanced as a primary recommendation. The need to enhance monitoring, reporting and the promotion of the Tsunami Ready Programme at national and international frameworks (e.g. EW4All, Sendai Framework, and the Comprehensive Disaster Management Framework and Strategy), to facilitate enhanced reporting, monitoring and encourage timely renewal was recognised as a critical recommendation.
The TRRP, led globally by IOC-UNESCO, supports at-risk coastal communities in meeting internationally recognized standards for preparedness, warning dissemination, public education, evacuation planning, and response capability. For Small Island Developing States and coastal territories throughout the Caribbean, the program has become an increasingly important tool for translating hazard awareness into measurable community-level readiness.
read more: https://www.ioc.unesco.org/en/articles/ioc-and-partners-host-second-tsunami-ready-summit
