WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao is strengthening its crisis management structure with the establishment of a new Central Operational Crisis Coordination Center, set to officially open at the end of November. The facility is designed not only to better prepare the island against disasters and power outages but also to assist other Caribbean islands in times of crisis.
The announcement was confirmed by Lesley Fer, Director of the Directorate for Crisis and Risk Management & Disaster Policy and Curaçao’s national crisis coordinator. Fer emphasized that regional cooperation is essential, even for the Leeward Islands that are less vulnerable to hurricanes but increasingly face the impacts of climate change.
“With this new center and its ICT infrastructure, we will also be able to support other Caribbean islands during emergencies and disasters,” Fer stated.
Blackout highlights urgency
The importance of a robust crisis structure became clear this past summer, when a total blackout crippled the island. A technical failure at wind turbines triggered a chain reaction that caused backup systems to collapse. Due to high energy consumption during extreme heat, the grid could not be stabilized quickly, resulting in an outage that lasted between 12 and 20 hours.
Fer explained: “When a power failure lasts longer than six hours, it creates a chain reaction. Vulnerable groups are at risk, medicines cannot be cooled, and tourism is severely affected.”
During the outage, the crisis management team worked alongside energy and telecom providers to advise residents through SMS and radio broadcasts, urging them to unplug appliances before power was restored.
Training and knowledge sharing
The new coordination center will not only function during emergencies. In so-called “cold phases,” it will serve as a training hub, accommodating up to 60 crisis officials for drills and simulations. The facility will also operate as a knowledge and research institute, aimed at strengthening the expertise of professionals and improving the resilience of the broader population.
With its dual role in both emergency response and capacity building, the center marks a major step in preparing Curaçao and its Caribbean neighbors for the challenges of the future.
