Belize Boosts Tsunami Readiness With National Training

For five days last week, emergency officials, local leaders, and international experts came together across Belize to test and strengthen the country’s tsunami preparedness. 

The Tsunami Ready Visit, led by the International Tsunami Information Center for the Caribbean (ITIC-CAR) from January 26 to 30, 2026, focused on improving emergency planning, response procedures, and community readiness along Belize’s coastline.

The programme included technical training on tsunami warning systems, reviews of standard operating procedures, and exercises at national and local levels. Officials also visited coastal communities including Placencia, Riversdale, Hopkins, Gales Point, and Mullins River to meet with village emergency committees and local leaders, making sure residents know how to act if a tsunami strikes.

The international team included experts from Puerto Rico and the U.S., while local participants included the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the National Meteorological Service, and the Belize City Council’s emergency management office.

Minister Henry Charles Usher said the initiative helps communities be better prepared for emergencies, adding, “This collaboration with our regional and international partners demonstrated our commitment to protecting lives and building a safer Belize for everyone.”