Four other radio stations are now part of NODS’ emergency-warning system, which alerts residents to impending disasters

Four private radio stations have now joined State-owned ABS Radio to broadcast emergency alerts during natural disasters, including hurricanes.

Observer Radio, Zoom Radio, God First Radio and Radio Lighthouse are now part of the national early-warning system – the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) that will interrupt regular programming to carry specific emergency alerts.

These alerts will notify residents of a pending event, such as a tsunami, flooding, tropical storm warning, hurricane warning, riot, and civil unrest, among others, according to the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS).

To this end, a system test was scheduled for this morning, Friday, October 7, at 5:30 a.m.

Prior to this, alerts were sent via smart phones, e-mails and ABS Radio and Television, the first media house to install the interrupts.

NODS says that CAP consultant Damian Barker, from Barbados, spent the past two days installing the interrupts at the radio stations and meeting with their personnel.

A refresher training exercise was also held with staff from NODS and the MET Office, both of which currently send out the alerts.

Representatives from the Police Force, the Defence Force, the Ministry of Health, the MET Office, and NODS staff have been trained and granted access to the CAP.

Reportedly 10,000 residents have downloaded the app and are already receiving these messages.