Tuesday, May 18. Mr. Kurt Loeffler, a geographer, and Ms. Justine Gesell, a videographer, are currently undertaking a documentary on Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness and Early Warning Systems throughout the Caribbean and the Virgin Islands Disaster Management Programme was deemed impressive resulting in this week’s visit to the Territory.
A film crew from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is in the Territory until Thursday documenting components of the disaster management programme with specific emphasis on earthquake and tsunami preparedness.
"This current project has allowed us to travel through the Caribbean and document how the islands monitor their state of preparedness for a hazard event," Ms. Gesell said.
She added, "The documentary that is being produced will be available online and can be integrated into various websites. The target audience is primarily the residents of the various Caribbean countries and can be used as an educational or tourism tool with the intention of making the Caribbean a safer place."
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The team will be visiting various locations throughout the Territory to capture footage of warning systems elements located within our communities. They will also speak with the relevant persons about the use and effectiveness of these systems.
Mr. Jasen Penn, Emergency Communications Officer in the Department of Disaster Management recently attended a Tsunami Ready Meeting in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico where he made a presentation on Tsunami Preparedness and Early Warning Systems in the Virgin Islands which helped to influence the USGS’ team to add the Territory to the list of Caribbean territories on their filming schedule.
Other Caribbean countries which will be featured in the documentary are Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique and Curacao. The project is being funded by USGS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
