Cayman Islands Strengthens Tsunami Preparedness Through Successful Caribe Wave 2026 Exercise
The Cayman Islands successfully participated in the regional tsunami exercise Caribe Wave 2026, with a total of 9,579 participants registered locally through Tsunami Zone.
Led by Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI), this year’s exercise placed a strong emphasis on collaboration with the tourism sector—recognising its critical role in the Cayman Islands’ economy and the importance of ensuring the safety of both residents and visitors.
This focus follows the earthquake and tsunami threat experienced 8 February 2025 in the Cayman Islands, which highlighted the need for strengthened engagement and support for tourism partners in emergency preparedness and response.
Participating properties included Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, and Bonny Moon Beach Club, where staff and volunteers worked alongside HMCI to test evacuation procedures, communication protocols, and on-site coordination during a simulated tsunami scenario.
HMCI Director Dani Coleman performs radio check before the Caribe Wave 2026 Exercise commences
To support the facilitation of the exercise, participation included 19 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, 17 hotel and beach club staff from the participating hotels and restaurant, as well as four HMCI personnel deployed in the field.
During the exercise, the HMCI office was transformed into a “Ground Zero” observatory environment, with members of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) providing real-time feedback. Representatives from BlackBerry AtHoc were also on hand to monitor system performance, identify issues, and support troubleshooting—ensuring continuous improvement in the use of the National Emergency Notification System (NENS) App.
Deputy Director for Planning, Preparedness and Mitigation, Mark Codling, emphasised the importance of the exercise and the role of public alerting systems. “Exercises like Caribe Wave are essential to strengthening our national readiness and ensuring that our systems, partnerships, and people are prepared to respond effectively. The NENS App is a critical tool in how we communicate with the public during emergencies, and exercises like this allow us to test and improve its performance in real time.” HMCI encourages all residents and visitors to download the app and become familiar with how alerts are delivered.
HMCI’s Duty Officer, Leslie Vernon and Deputy Director Mark Codling set up in preparation for the Caribe Wave 2026 Exercise
The exercise was deemed a success, with strong participation and coordination across agencies and the private sector. HMCI has identified several common issues experienced by users of the NENS App and will use these insights to inform ongoing improvements.
Following significant updates to the platform earlier this month, HMCI will also be revamping its public awareness campaign to better support both new and existing users in understanding and effectively using the app.
HMCI remains committed to building a culture of preparedness across the Cayman Islands, ensuring that all sectors—public and private—are equipped to respond to emergencies and protect lives.
