Regional Workshop Strengthens Disaster Risk Communication Across the Caribbean

The initiative directly supports the global Early Warnings for All commitment to ensure that everyone, everywhere, is protected by multi-hazard early warning systems.

A strong, trusted communication system is essential to ensure early warnings translate into life-saving action, and Caribbean countries are stepping up efforts to close this critical gap in disaster preparedness.

From 20–21 January 2026, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in partnership with the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), convened a regional workshop in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at strengthening collaboration across the disaster risk communication chain.

The two-day Regional Workshop on Strengthening Knowledge Exchange and Mutual Understanding between National Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services (NMHSs), National Disaster Risk Management Offices (NDRMOs), and the Media brought together more than 60 participants from across the Caribbean.

Turning Early Warnings into Early Action

Held under Phase 2 of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Caribbean Project, co-led and implemented by WMO and UNDRR, the workshop focused on ensuring that early warnings are clearly communicated, understood and acted upon — particularly by vulnerable and last-mile communities.

The initiative directly supports the global Early Warnings for All commitment to ensure that everyone, everywhere, is protected by multi-hazard early warning systems.

Participants included senior representatives from meteorological services, disaster management agencies, government information services, and public and private media organizations.

High-Level Support Across the Region

The opening ceremony was attended by national, regional and international leaders, including:

• The Honourable Barry Padarath, Minister of Public Utilities and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

• The Honourable Clyde Elder, Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities

• Dr Arlene Laing, Coordinating Director, Caribbean Meteorological Organization

• Mr Rodney Martinez Guingla, WMO Representative for North America, Central America and the Caribbean

• Ms Sonia Gill, Secretary General, Caribbean Broadcasting Union

• Mr Anwar Baksh, Programme Officer, UNDRR

• Lt Col Kester Craig, Deputy Executive Director, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

Communication as a Core Early Warning Function

Addressing participants, Mr Rodney Martinez Guingla highlighted the Caribbean’s acute exposure to multiple hazards and the central role of communication in saving lives.

“While scientific and technological capacity for hazard detection and forecasting has steadily improved, early warnings only save lives when they are effectively communicated, clearly understood, and acted upon,” he said. “From WMO’s perspective, communication is not the final step of an early warning system — it is a core operational function.”

Addressing Gaps Across the Warning Value Chain

The workshop featured expert panels, case studies and interactive group exercises focused on strengthening communication before, during and after hazardous events.

Key issues addressed included:

• Improving information flow during emergencies

• Developing clear communication guidelines for prioritising and scheduling messages

• Strengthening operational communication protocols

• Clarifying institutional roles and responsibilities

• Identifying and reducing miscommunication and bottlenecks

Discussions also explored human factors in decision-making, broadcast and publishing practices, and strategies to counter mis- and disinformation, while supporting the development of practical tools and message templates.

Priority Actions Identified

Participants identified several priority actions to strengthen early warning communication across the Caribbean, including:

• Faster and more consistent dissemination of warnings through coordinated, multi-channel communication

• Stronger, trust-based partnerships between meteorological services, disaster agencies and the media, established well before emergencies

• Clear, ready-to-use messages with recommended actions that communities can easily understand and follow

There was also strong emphasis on expanding impact-based forecasting, using simple and culturally appropriate language, and ensuring early warnings support early action, not only emergency response.

Building Long-Term Regional Resilience

The workshop laid the foundation for more effective, coordinated weather, climate and disaster risk communication across the Caribbean — a region among the most hazard-prone in the world.

By strengthening cooperation between science, emergency management and the media, Caribbean countries are taking a critical step toward ensuring that early warnings reach people in time — and prompt action that saves lives.