Multi-hazard early warning systems in Antigua and Barbuda

Five countries are featured in the Global status of multi-hazard early warning systems 2024 report that demonstrate national efforts. Each case study includes details of the key institutions involved in MHEWS at the national level as well as the legislative frameworks and national plans that can support MHEWS.

National context 

Antigua and Barbuda is a small island developing State that is highly vulnerable and exposed to natural, social and socio-natural hazards, particularly hurricanes, floods, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis. The country's exposure is exacerbated by its geographical location, development patterns and the impacts of climate change. Given the islands' limited landmass, the repercussions of a single storm could lead to widespread devastation across the entire population. The country produced a situation analysis in 2022. This presents its disaster risk profile as well as putting forward concrete recommendations.

In response, Antigua and Barbuda has actively engaged in DRR/ management and stepped up its efforts on EWS, guided by international frameworks and regional initiatives.

Highlights and successes 

Key stakeholders: 

The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) is the primary agency responsible for disaster risk management, including risk reduction and MHEWS. 

The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service (ABMS) plays a crucial role in monitoring, forecasting and disseminating information on hydrometeorological hazards. 

The Department of Environment oversees environmental hazards mitigation and possesses early warning capacity for specific hazards. 

The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre is the official source of information on earthquakes and volcanoes in the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda. 

The Ministry of Health supports health-related risk reduction by improving service delivery at the primary and secondary levels, along with epidemiological surveillance, among other efforts that help to manage selected biological hazards. 

Other key agencies, including the Police Service, Fire and Rescue Service, Defence Force and Antigua Public Utilities Authority, have defined roles in risk management and response. 

Community Disaster Response Teams or Community Emergency Response Teams are another integral component of the national disaster management system, coordinating preparedness and response activities within their communities. 

Platforms, policies and plans: 

The Disaster Management Act (2002) provides the legal framework, including the establishment of the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Advisory Committee. It also clearly defines the roles of NODS and ABMS, but the legislation needs to be updated to cover the roles of other relevant actors. 

A National Comprehensive Disaster Management Plan (CDM) was developed from 2014 to 2016, but remains in draft form. 

A National Disaster Plan (DP) was developed in 2014, but similarly remains in draft form. Both the CDM and DP provide coverage for very specific hazards, namely hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, drought and "other hazards". Both documents need to account for multiple hazards. 

The Medium-Term Development Strategy outlines key dimensions for sustainable development, including disaster risk management and resilience to climate change.

Plan outlines activities and actions for disaster managers to carry out in each phase of the disaster risk management cycle. 

Activities and projects: 

EW4All National consultative workshops were held in December 2023 and March 2024. Outputs included joint mapping of actors and initiatives, a gap analysis and a country-driven implementation plan detailing actions to achieve end-to-end and people-centred MHEWS.

 Tsunami Ready Recognition: in 2020, the capital city of St. John's received recognition as Tsunami Ready under the Pilot Community Performance- Based Tsunami Recognition Programme by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (IOC/UNESCO). This showcases the country's commitment to implementing early warning measures and educating the public about tsunami risks. The successful conduct of tsunami drills and the development of evacuation plans further highlight the nation's dedication to preparedness, which could be applied to other hazards. 

Strengthening Capacities of Early Warning and Response for Tsunamis and other Coastal Hazards in the Caribbean: a project aimed at developing an end-to-end tsunami EWS in the region. 

Implementation of the WINLINK Network: deployment of emergency telecommunications equipment to improve emergency response capabilities. Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Multi- Hazard Early Warning Services in the Caribbean (see Box 4: Phase 2 of the project aims to further enhance MHEWS in the Caribbean by strengthening National Disaster Management Agencies and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services through regional cooperation and user engagement. Goals include improving disaster risk knowledge, enhancing the dissemination of warnings and ensuring inclusive approaches for at-risk populations. 

Common Alerting Protocol (CAP): the CAP system was introduced to enhance the dissemination of information during emergencies, with ABMS the only authorized alerting authority.

UNDP scoping mission and project with the Green Climate Fund: Antigua and Barbuda is part of a global UNDP project with Green Climate Fund financing that will serve to finance the aspects prioritized in the national EW4All implementation plan

Challenges and gaps

 Antigua and Barbuda's MHEWS faces significant challenges due to fragmented risk information, outdated legislation, inadequate infrastructure and weak inter-agency coordination, as highlighted during the national consultations. For example, the MHEWS Gap report highlights the need for improved coordination among stakeholders, better seismic monitoring systems, strengthened DRR planning and enhanced risk knowledge to build resilience and respond effectively to hazards. 

While some entities, such as the Department of Environment, have robust data on environmental hazards, sectors, such as tourism and energy, lack comprehensive risk assessments and MHEWS, despite their economic importance. Similarly, there is a need for a common platform with disaster risk information accessible to both stakeholders and the general public

Although the capability of ABMS is evolving, especially in terms of the use of remotely sensed data and outputs from regional centres and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, there are technical limitations in terms of observations of oceanic and coastal hazards, impact-based forecasting and the development and use of standardized protocols. In addition, while ABMS is benefiting from outputs from the WMO's TCP and Severe Weather Forecasting Programme, it is still developing a hydrological capability. The ABMS began as a body supporting the Airport Authority, and while the roles and responsibilities have been expanding, there is limited growth due to lack of legislation. 

The reliance on traditional communication channels, although they reach some, could be usefully supplemented by using social media and community based approaches. 

Preparedness to respond to warnings is inadequate, with gaps in crisis management plans (which need to be reviewed), tracking of warning effectiveness, training for first responders and funding for anticipatory actions. Social vulnerabilities, especially those linked to poverty and gender inequality, remain unaddressed. Limited community engagement further exacerbates these vulnerabilities.

Lessons learned and good practices 

Antigua and Barbuda's EW4All Implementation Plan reflects a truly coordinated process involving multiple stakeholders, including local, national, regional and international actors. It proposes concrete actions with detailed and prioritized activities, budgeting and time frames for implementation by local, national, regional and international parties and stakeholders, including those in leadership roles and other contributors. Activities include updating disaster legislative and policy frameworks, integrating DRR measures into sectoral policies, strengthening coordination for pandemics and epidemics, improving risk data and knowledge for critical sectors, enhancing knowledge on geological hazards and incorporating gender considerations, as well as local and indigenous knowledge, into national EWS. 

The Plan also emphasizes the need for multisectoral coordination, strong community engagement, institutional support and capacity-building to strengthen MHEWS infrastructure, underscoring the nation's commitment to enhancing disaster resilience and responsiveness through comprehensive EWS, just as it demonstrated a proactive approach to tsunami preparedness.

CREWS in Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean region)

CREWS has supported Antigua and Barbuda through its Caribbean multi-year regional project, which aims to strengthen and streamline regional and national systems and capacity related to weather forecasting, hydrometeorology and MHEWS in the region. Following the successful outcomes of the first phase of the project, Phase 2 has been launched and will run until 2026. 

A key output from Phase 1 was the development of a Regional Road Map that leverages existing regional-level capacities and initiatives in the Caribbean so that regional centres can in turn transfer and build technical and human capacities in national institutions. Through the project, CREWS supported the operationalization of a cascading forecasting system that feeds into comprehensive and coordinated people-centred, gender-responsive and inclusive EWS. CREWS has also supported the transition to impact-based forecasting and warning services. In addition, the project carried out a technical study for the development of the Regional Emergency Alert system - a regional impact-based emergency alert communication and dissemination system. 

Lessons learned from Phase 1 are informing Phase 2 of the project and CREWS interventions in other geographies, for example, how to make effective use of strong regional centres to build sustainable EWS capability at the national level and how to enable interagency data-sharing.

 SOFF in Antigua and Barbuda

 A regional GBON design for upper-air observations in the Caribbean is being explored with the SOFF countries, including Antigua and Barbuda. The proposed approach is to prepare a map of present and proposed SOFF supported GBON stations and submit a plan for a regional network of upper-air stations. Developed by representatives from the countries and peer advisers, as well as the SOFF Secretariat and WMO Technical Authority, the design will be validated by the Infrastructure Working Group of WMO Regional Association-IV and by a relevant team within WMO Infrastructure Commission.