The Office of Disaster Management (ODM), in collaboration with the UWI Seismic Research Centre (UWI - SRC) and through the support of key partners including, the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP), the Connecting Communities for Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness (CCC DRiP) Project, the Regional Security System (RSS), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and public-private sector partnership through the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC), conducted repair and upgrade works on the National Volcano-seismic Monitoring and Early Warning Network in Dominica. The cost of this project is approximately $1,000,000.00 EC dollars.
Two (2) Technicians from the UWI SRC and one (1) from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) Volcano Observatory, along with their equipment, arrived in Dominica November 8th, 2021, via the Regional Security System (RSS) Aircraft.
The SRC team carried out repair and upgrade works on the Network during the period November 8 to December 6 2021. At the end of this initial phase:
- Seventeen (17) sites were identified for installation of stations
- New installations were completed at the ODM Headquarters in Jimmit, Londondary Agricultural Station, Castle Bruce Secondary School and DOWASCO Earth tank in Morne Daniel
- Repairs and upgrade were done to stations at Freshwater Lake, Scotts Head, Salisbury and La Plaine
- Eight (8) of the seventeen (17) stations are now operational with six (6) transmitting data in real-time to the UWI SRC in Trinidad and Tobago.The upgraded network will enhance Dominica’s volcano-seismic monitoring, detection and early warning capabilities. It will also provide valuable information and data to inform the review of the National Volcanic Hazard and Earthquake Hazard plans. The Volcanic Alert Level for Dominica is currently at GREEN which signifies that volcanic activity is at background level.This project is part of the programming of the ODM to maintain a heightened state of preparedness to all hazards with potential to impact Dominica. It is aligned to the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of National Security and Home Affairs and contributes toward the resilience initiative of Dominica as outlined in the National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS), 2030. The project is in-keeping with the regional Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy 2014-2024 which is implemented nationally through the Country Work Programme 2021-2025, the International Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The public is being reminded to assist with safeguarding the sites and equipment from vandalism and theft. The Office of Disaster Management wishes to thank all the partners who have contributed towards the planning and execution of this project.
