CDEMA targets communication gaps ahead of hurricane season

Improving fragile communication systems and fixing coordination gaps exposed by Hurricane Melissa will be central to the Caribbean’s disaster preparedness efforts as officials warn that the first two weeks after a storm remain the most vulnerable period for response failures.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) annual regional press conference on the hurricane season which starts on June 1, put the emphasis on stronger coordination, logistics and information-sharing systems across the region.

Executive director Elizabeth Riley said lessons learned from Hurricane Melissa in 2025 explained that the regional after-action review following Hurricane Melissa in March 2026 revealed several areas requiring improvement, including coordination, logistics, communication, rapid assessments, relief management and the transition from response to recovery.

“One of the clearest lessons from Hurricane Melissa was that regional coordination mechanisms remain strong and effective, particularly in the early activation of the Regional Response mechanism,” Riley said.

But she noted that operational difficulties often emerged during the first two weeks after a disaster, particularly while countries transitioned from emergency response to recovery efforts.

“The review also showed that the greatest operational constraints tend to occur within the first two weeks of the response, and particularly during that period when we’re transitioning from response to recovery.

“Hurricane Melissa demonstrated the critical importance of prepositioning relief supplies, including at the CDEMA World Food Program logistics hub in Barbados, the importance of strengthening transportation arrangements, and improving supply chain coordination across the region.”

She also highlighted the major role played by the private sector during emergencies, especially in transport and warehousing support.

Riley further pointed to the need for more reliable and harmonised emergency communication systems throughout the Caribbean.

“A major lesson emerging from the after-action reviews was the importance of reliable, harmonised emergency communications and also resilient information management systems,” she said.

While digital platforms and emergency telecommunications systems functioned successfully during the last storm response, Riley acknowledged that information-sharing gaps between agencies and sectors created coordination challenges.

“We continue to work with our partners towards a more integrated data system and standardized information-sharing approaches that will support faster and more accurate decision making during emergencies,” she added.

The CDEMA head also revealed that several specialist regional response teams are now on standby ahead of the hurricane season following extensive training exercises held across the Caribbean in recent months.

Some168 people have been identified for deployment under the CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit, while 60 personnel are available to support urban search and rescue operations.

In addition, 38 specialists are prepared to assist rapid needs assessment teams, 12 people are trained to support the CARICOM Operational Support Team, and more than 100 individuals are available to assist field medical facilities.

CDEMA also has access to more than 75 technicians through CARILEC to support damaged power grid restoration, along with trained emergency telecommunications personnel and mental health and psychosocial support teams.

“These numbers are likely to increase as the training and orientation sessions continue over the coming weeks,” Riley said.

She noted that the expansion of technical personnel available to the regional system was one of the major lessons learned from the regional response efforts in 2024.

“At CDEMA, our work is ultimately about people, the safety of our families, the security of our communities, the protection of livelihoods, and the resilience of our participating states,” Riley said.

“Every plan we develop, every exercise we conduct, and every partnership that we pursue, is directed towards saving lives and reducing losses when hazards occur.”

(SB)