After concluding a year-long engagement with Barbados in which the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) presented the results of the country’s National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment, the Center reunited with its partners at the Barbados Department of Emergency Management (DEM) to participate in the 2024 Tradewinds exercise. Tradewinds is a large-scale, multinational exercise that takes place in different locations every year. This year it was held in Barbados between May 4 – 16, 2024.

“Tradewinds is an important exercise that not only strengthens our emergency management capabilities in Barbados, but the CDEMA regional response mechanism as a whole. Our partnership with PDC who has joined us in Barbados to support the Tradewinds event, enhances the exercise through the application of new hazard and risk data we’ve recently developed together during the Barbados National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment.”

—Barbados DEM CAPT Robert Harewood

Tradewinds is a large-scale, annual exercise that takes place in different locations throughout the Caribbean to improve interoperability, crisis readiness, and to help address shared security challenges. This year’s exercise garnered over 1,000 participants from civilian agencies, military, and observer/trainer teams from multiple countries who train together in ground, air, sea, and cyber operations.

“We were excited to put the recently concluded assessment for Barbados into immediate operational use during Tradewinds 24, especially as hurricane season approaches.

The disaster management training we conducted with partners at the Barbados Department of Emergency Management headquarters in support of the exercise emphasized the use of data and decision support systems to improve speed, coordination, and effectiveness of response efforts. Having access to the Barbados national assessment data in a centralized location through PDC’s DisasterAWARE decision support and risk intelligence platform exemplified the value of our collective efforts.”

—PDC’s Senior Disaster Management Specialist and Response Lead

According to Bosse, PDC supported the entire Tradewinds 24 planning phase to ensure the goals and objectives of the humanitarian assistance and disaster response portion of the exercise could be achieved.

With support from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and their Starlink, PDC established a real-time Common Operating Picture (COP) at the scene, crucial for coordinating response efforts and guiding personnel incoming to event location and those operating at the Barbados Emergency Operations Center.

The event was co-led by the Barbados DEM and the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) and encompassed Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC), and Incident Command System (ICS) operations.

PDC has supported the Tradewinds exercises for the last three years, and remotely supported previous years as well, using DisasterAWARE as the common operational picture for sharing information and coordinating multi-agency response activities.

These are important activities, said Bosse, because they strengthen regional partnerships and multi-lateral humanitarian assistance capabilities during real-world events. This is critically important as the region prepares for the upcoming hurricane season.

“Exercise Tradewinds provides a unique opportunity for allies and partners in the region to develop and enhance HADR skills sets, build trust and enhance interoperability when responding to natural disasters.”

—Lt Col Simpson from the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC)

Tradewinds focuses on building capacity for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), regional agencies and institutions, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as well as partner nations engaged in the exercise from the Caribbean Basin, U.S., Canada, France, Netherlands, and United Kingdom.