Caribe Wave: knowing the right way to behave
On Thursday, a full-scale drill took place on Baie Rouge beach: evacuating people from the beach following a tsunami warning. In reality, there is only an hour between the warning and the arrival of the wave, in the best-case scenario. The aim is therefore to teach tourists and residents the correct procedures to follow.
To test evacuation routes and emergency coordination under real-life conditions, those present yesterday at Baie Rouge were assigned roles so that the Red Cross volunteers responsible for receiving them could deal with any situation that might arise ‘in real life’ should such an event occur. The police and fire brigade of Saint Martin were also mobilised to ensure the exercise was as realistic as possible. Everyone played their part.
The key takeaway is that we must bear in mind we live in a territory vulnerable to natural disasters, and that it is better to be aware of the warning signs of a tsunami, such as a loud thud or unusual rumbling from the sea, an earthquake, or an abnormal retreat of the sea. As soon as the FR Alert is triggered (a ringtone and message with instructions on smartphones), you must quickly seek refuge on high ground. If you are on a boat, you must head out to sea.
All the information is available on the prefecture’s WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBeizuE50Uhl1CHTQ3X
