DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS NOT FOCUSING ON TSUNAMI

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004212 SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/OA LIZ TIRPAK, OES/STC PATRICIA MEEKS, WHA/CAR DAVID SEARBY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC TPHY EAID SENV DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IS NOT FOCUSING ON TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEMS REF: SECSTATE 152264 ¶1. The Dominican government does not have a tsunami warning system (TWS) and it is unlikely that it will develop one soon. The Dominican National Emergency Commission does not believe tsunamis are a current threat to the Dominican Republic in comparison to hurricanes, flooding, and tornadoes. ¶2. On September 1, econoff contacted Director Jose Luis German Mejia and other members of the Dominican National Emergency Commission (COE). COE is the first responder, researcher, and coordinator on all national emergencies in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican team stated they did not have a warning system and would need to have several internal meetings to discuss what kinds of equipment and/or assistance they would need to create one. German proposed that the Dominican Republic work with other Caribbean countries to create a Caribbean Tsunami Warning System in an agreement similar to the one they have with Puerto Rico for seismic studies. German stated the Dominican government would welcome any financial or technical assistance from the U.S. government for the creation of a TWS. ¶3. The National Emergency Commission appeared unaware of the upcoming meeting of the International Oceanographic Commission Intergovernmental Coordination Group. HERTELL