US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO4212

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