May 6, 2016, the city of Cap-Haitien will conduct a simulation exercise (SIMEX) of an earthquake generating a tsunami. Organised by the Civil Protection Directorate, with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the exercise is an important activity of seismic risk reduction plan in the departments of North of Haiti.

Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, the Director of Civil Protection explained that "This simulation falls within the framework of a series of initiatives, of outreach activities to populations of the northern region of the existence of seismic risk [...] the choice of the North for the realization of this exercise in terms of seismic contingencies meets this desire of the State to invest in earthquake risk reduction notably through awareness and education of the public and institutions and also through training on earthquake resistant building standards [...] during the last four years, the departments of Great North have benefited of numerous awareness campaigns to seismic risk and tsunami. Beyond these efforts undertaken by the system, it is important to continue this information work and advocacy that the Haitian state began with the support of its partners. The Haitian population, meanwhile, notably that of Great North, must continue to prepare to deal with potential disasters."

For her part, Yvonne Helle, the Director of the UNDP Haiti indicated "this exercise is the culmination of five years of continuous efforts of the Haitian Government with the support of the teams of the North plan to reduce the vulnerability of the North-East departments, North and Northwest. UNDP place the resilience of people and infrastructure at the heart of its efforts to minimize human and economic losses.

This means being on the field every day to help coordinate joint efforts and to work with the involvement of all actors (local authorities, volunteers, population, UN system organizations, donors, NGOs ...) under the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Collectivities and the Civil Protection Directorate."

Did you know ?

In Haiti, 300 prevention signs were installed in several areas at risk of tsunami. The country currently has 3 tide gauges for monitoring sea and early warning of tsunami.

A total of 160 representatives of communal or departmental committees of civil protection have been trained in order to support the population in the emergency response.

Three tsunami simulation exercises were conducted in 2012 and 2014 with the evacuation of over 5,000 people (city of Cap-Haitien, Petite-Anse and Port-de-Paix).

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16893-haiti-security-tsunami-warning-exercise.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-16318-icihaiti-tsunamis-did-you-know.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-14442-haiti-security-simulation-exercises-simex-actors-are-mobilizing.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11288-haiti-weather-beginning-of-the-season-at-risk.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10334-haiti-security-false-rumor-true-wounded-the-minister-basile-reassures.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8145-haiti-social-haiti-participates-to-the-exercise-caribe-wave-lantex-13.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7273-haiti-social-tsunami-exercise-in-cap-haitien.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2630-haiti-disaster-caribbean-tsunami-test-highlights-some-deficiencies.html

HL/ HaitiLibre