UNESCO Strengthens Disaster Preparedness Through Community Radio in Jamaica

From 27 April to 2 May, the Community Radio Preparedness, Response and Field Simulation Workshop brought together media professionals, students, emergency communication specialists and community members in Jamaica to strengthen the role of community radio in disaster preparedness and response.

Hosted by the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, the workshop was organized in collaboration with Rapid Response Radio, the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) at The University of the West Indies, Mona, and the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica.

The program culminated in a live field simulation at the Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, engaging the local community with support from the Spectrum Management Authority, the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.

The initiative forms part of UNESCO's broader efforts to strengthen the resilience of media systems across the Caribbean and ensure that access to life-saving information remains available before, during and after natural disasters.

Participants received practical training in establishing emergency radio stations, broadcasting crisis information and engaging with the community during emergencies. Sessions covered technical deployment, ethical communication and approaches to safeguarding cultural heritage in disaster contexts.

The program concluded with a live simulation at the Old Naval Hospital in Port Royal, where participants established a temporary FM radio station for one day to deliver critical information. The pop-up station enabled nine workshop participants to interview residents, who shared their experiences of past disasters.

Interviewees also shared preparedness messages and emergency information. These conversations created an opportunity to capture valuable local knowledge, including fishing practices, cultural artefacts, community memory and other heritage-related insights to help strengthen resilience and disaster preparedness.

Community radio is vital in disaster preparedness. Local, trusted and adaptable, it can reach underserved communities with real-time information in familiar and culturally relevant formats. It also helps ensure that local voices, knowledge and needs are reflected in preparedness, response and recovery efforts.