Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 23rd Conference sent a clear message: in the face of shared, cross-border risks, preparedness must also be shared and cross-border. Disasters no longer arrive one at a time; they compound socioeconomic inequality, prior emergencies, human mobility, and institutional fragility, and their effects cross borders indiscriminately. In that context, no country — and no organization — can respond alone. Regional coordination is not an aspiration but an operational condition, and building it requires trust accumulated in times of calm, not improvised in the midst of an emergency.
That coordination, speakers agreed, must rest on concrete systems: early warnings that arrive in time and are understood by those who receive them, supplies prepositioned before disaster strikes, trained volunteers already living in the communities they serve, and governments that recognize the auxiliary role of Red Cross Societies. Investing in preparedness is not a cost: every dollar spent on risk reduction generates four in benefits. The problem, they noted, is not one of evidence but of political priority and predictable funding.
Finally, the opening ceremony placed a clear focus on the need to strengthen the humanitarian architecture both on the ground and in international law. The auxiliary role of National Red Cross Societies, regional cooperation agreements, and the ongoing United Nations negotiations toward a binding treaty on disaster protection all point in the same direction: ensuring that the protection of the most vulnerable communities does not depend on chance or on whoever happens to be generous that year, but on clear commitments, solid systems, and a humanitarian architecture that keeps people at the center of everything.
Operational Lessons from the 2025 Hurricane Season
The session addressed the impact of Hurricane Melissa (Category 5) in the Caribbean, using this event as a turning point to analyze disaster risk management in Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti. Panelists agreed that risk does not depend solely on meteorological classification, but on the combination of the hazard with pre-existing vulnerabilities. The hurricane affected more than 8 million people, generating massive economic losses (reaching up to 57% of GDP damage in Jamaica) and severe damage to water, power, and housing infrastructure.
Despite the magnitude of the disaster, significant advances in preparedness and technology were highlighted. Haiti successfully reduced field data collection time from months to less than 48 hours through digital tools like KoBo Toolbox and Tableau, while also emphasizing the success of their pre-season simulation exercises. Cuba demonstrated the effectiveness of its early warning systems and evacuation plans, protecting over a million people in evacuation centers with zero human casualties; they relied on solar panels to maintain communication during an energy crisis and used satellite imagery (Copernicus) to validate their risk maps. Meanwhile, Jamaica faced severe mobility, telecommunications, and power challenges in essential services, emphasizing the need to establish disaster risk management framework agreements, secure institutional power supplies, and centrally coordinate the more than 200 international entities that arrived in the country to avoid duplication of efforts.
In conclusion, the session underscored that successful response lies in anticipatory action, the strategic pre-positioning of physical resources, and technological integration for decision-making. Simultaneously, it recognized that when modern networks collapse, contingency plans must accommodate a strategic return to analogue and traditional methods to ensure continuity.
2026 Hurricane Season Outlook: Threats, Trends and Implications for Response
The session addressed the exchange of meteorological, methodological, and operational information to organize preparedness measures for the upcoming hurricane season. Presentations were given on the European Union’s mechanisms, which operate under formal and reactive activation schemes at the request of the affected state, supported by the Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC). In addition to these tools are the GDACS system, which issues automatic alerts and assesses whether local capacities will be overwhelmed; the ARISTOTLE Consortium for rapid scientific advice; and the Copernicus system for satellite mapping of damage within 24 hours. They also highlighted collaboration with the IFRC through the DREF fund during complex crises, such as the dual activation in Jamaica and Cuba following Hurricane Melissa.
The 2025 season provided technical lessons due to rapid intensification events. Although the Atlantic Ocean recorded 13 storms and 5 hurricanes—figures below normal—the accumulated energy was very high, marking the highest number of Category 5 hurricanes since 2005, with a death toll of 125 and millions in damages. The most destructive event was Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica and Haiti with record winds of 160 knots upon landfall. In response, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) demonstrated great accuracy by predicting its impact four days in advance with a margin of error of just 11 nautical miles, and by warning nearly three days ahead of time that it would arrive at its peak intensity.
For the 2026 season, NOAA will implement operational and experimental changes. The uncertainty cone will include alerts for inland areas of the United States and a unique 1- to 5-day shading scheme. On an experimental basis, an ellipse-based cone will debut, incorporating longitudinal and transverse errors to assess deviations in time and position; this cone will also cover inland areas of the Caribbean in phases, starting with small islands. Additionally, the Tropical Climate Graphic Outlook will add a “gray X” for systems with a 0% probability of development but posing a threat of rain, while traditional storm surge and wind alerts and warnings remain in effect.
On the other hand, the climate outlook for 2026 highlights three areas of interest. A steady warming trend is confirmed in the equatorial and eastern Pacific, extending to a depth of 300 meters, while the Atlantic remains near normal. This warming, whose indicators began months ago, is the precursor to El Niño, a phenomenon that will continue to develop throughout the year and extend into 2027. Currently, there is a 30% probability that it will be a strong event and a 30% probability that it will be moderate, according to statistical analyses conducted since 1854.
This outlook will result in a significant rainfall deficit and high temperatures between June and October in the northern Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America, directly affecting agriculture, livestock, and water resources. Although El Niño typically leads to more hurricanes in the Pacific and normal conditions in the Atlantic, experts note that a single hurricane is enough to cause catastrophic damage. Sea surface temperature forecasts indicate that warming will intensify in the Caribbean and Central America during August, September, and October, coinciding with drought forecasts from local meteorological services.
Given this scenario, the WMO requests that the media strictly avoid and doesn’t recognize the usage of the term “Super Niño” to prevent misinformation or alarmism that could distract authorities, urging the use of only official forecasts from the WMO and the National Climate Center. Furthermore, it emphasizes that governments and response communities already have the necessary tools to implement and activate their preparedness plans in a timely manner. This action is urgent and a priority to mitigate the anticipated impacts on key sectors, thereby ensuring that authorities are not distracted by media alarmism and focus on decision-making based on official sources.
In conclusion, the greatest challenge to the timely use of information lies in maintaining agility in data exchange between meteorological centers and decision-makers, as scientific and technological advances lose their effectiveness if there are no fluid channels to translate science into community actions before the impact occurs.
Regional Preparedness Capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean
This session sought to answer a key question: How does information get turned into concrete actions and decisions that protect communities and their livelihoods before disaster strikes?
The conversation emphasized that early warning systems, on their own, do not save lives — they require institutions to know clearly who decides, who communicates, and what actions are triggered at each moment. Countries like the Dominican Republic are already moving in that direction, with anticipatory action teams that coordinate the actors present in the territory.
In Honduras, meteorological information is translated into hydrometeorological hazard maps that reach municipal governments directly. Those municipalities participate in community-based networks made up of the communities themselves — the people who best know their own capacities and the vulnerabilities they face.
Initiatives like these must be developed with communities at the center and must reach “the last mile.” In every case, top-down, one-directional approaches that place the burden of saving lives on the population must be avoided.
During the session, community training and equitable access to information emerged as indispensable conditions for better decision-making. Initiatives such as Early Warning for All — currently being integrated into national early warning plans — have shown that people act when they understand the risk, know what an alert means, and have previously practiced how to respond. This means developing community brigades at the municipal level, adapting messages for people with disabilities or those who do not speak the dominant language, and connecting community information systems with national-level structures. As an example, pilots with indigenous communities in the Amazon were mentioned as a way to ensure timely access to information that enables action.
At the regional level, coordination was described as a pillar that must become more systemic and proactive. Existing coordination mechanisms have proven their value in building a shared understanding of risk and making available capacities visible, but early warning information still needs to be translated into decision-making more quickly.
Finally, the session closed with a call to rethink how success is measured. The performance of an early warning system is not measured by the number of bulletins issued, but by how many people managed to mobilize in time, how many lives were protected, and how many losses were avoided. That standard, participants agreed, should guide both the technical design of systems and the investment decisions that support them.
Recurrent Hazards in Latin America and the Caribbean
The primary objective of the sessions was to broaden the humanitarian debate beyond the traditional hurricane season. Latin America currently faces a complex landscape of overlapping hazards. Climate risks interact directly with earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, epidemics, contexts of violence, and forced displacement. These compounding crises severely challenge traditional regional preparedness and response capacities across the region.
The World Meteorological Organization presented the 2025 State of the Climate report records a persistent global warming trend. Hurricane activity is reported above normal levels in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Wildfires show a higher frequency and cause long-term devastating damage to the regional hydrological cycle. Currently, the El Niño phenomenon displays extreme thermal anomalies of 4 to 5 degrees in the central and eastern Pacific. Climate models project severe rainfall deficits in Central America, the Caribbean, southern Mexico, and northern South America. Likewise, the coasts of Peru, Colombia, and Central America will experience highly elevated temperatures. The available scientific information is sufficient to immediately activate national preparedness plans.
The Mexican Red Cross talked about heatwaves and wildfires generate severe and direct impacts at the community level. In Mexico, the 2025 wildfires were mainly concentrated in high-density population areas such as Mexico City and the State of Mexico. Meanwhile, the Climate Resilience Project recorded an extreme heat record in Mexicali, exceeding 57 degrees during the year 2025. Extreme heat degrades population health, operational infrastructure, the economy, and essential services. In response to this situation, the institution adapted its operational planning to protect its field volunteers. Implemented measures include providing special equipment, constant hydration supplies, and modified work schedules. It is indispensable to incorporate updated climate data to effectively strengthen anticipatory climate action.
Then, the Lutheran World Federation mentioned the current humanitarian crises occur in turbulent and unstable environments. Climate impacts multiply pre-existing risks of violence, armed conflict, and forced migration. In South America, over 10 million people are directly exposed to climate risks. The Amazon currently records a troubling 20% cumulative deforestation rate. In Central America, the Dry Corridor has 10 million people affected by severe food insecurity. Pre-existing structural issues compound the destructive impacts on mental health, education, and livelihoods. Phenomena such as economic extortion, forced recruitment, and youth confinement destroy the social fabric. In the case of Haiti, half of the healthcare institutions are located in areas controlled by armed gangs. The humanitarian response requires mandatory psychosocial support prior to technical training, as well as prioritizing localization and flexible multi-year funding.
Lastly, the National Risk Management Secretariat of Ecuador Ecuador highlighted the declaration of a yellow alert for the El Niño phenomenon on May 18 in provinces located below 1,500 meters. The country records a historical baseline of 31,500 adverse rainfall events and 680 deaths over the last 16 years. The year 2024 reported over 34,000 hectares burned by wildfires and 584,000 people affected by droughts. Risk management was officially incorporated as a national development priority through a structured 15-year public policy. Territorial planning strengthens municipalities through local management models and the consolidation of community committees. Traditional Early Warning Systems for tsunamis and volcanoes were completely redesigned into multi-hazard tools. The institutional response to emergencies is legally coordinated through the Emergency Operations Committees (COE).
National Societies, more and better prepared to respond
The session sought to address the complex question: What does it mean to be well-prepared as a Red Cross? The discussion brought together insights from leaders of the National Societies (NS) of Barbados and Honduras, as well as the Disaster Preparedness Reference Center (CREP).
Participants agreed that a prepared National Society must be resilient, efficient, innovative, and focused on proactive measures. Under this premise, the Caribbean Cluster and CADRIM support 13 island NSs through capacity building and networking. In this region, preparedness makes the invisible visible by documenting processes, identifying gaps, and consolidating legal responsibilities, using Dominica as a model for building resilience and advocacy.
The Barbados Red Cross’s experience with Hurricane Beryl in 2024 transformed its institutional vision by demanding an immediate response with available resources. It was demonstrated that preparedness under pressure is entirely different, highlighting that managing staff anxiety and psychosocial preparedness are key operational components. Beryl taught that a contingency plan is only useful if people and resources can activate it. As was aptly highlighted in the session: “Basic preparedness requires personnel, logistics, communications, data on volunteer management, reporting, coordination, and infrastructure. Although these elements are not always visible, they are what make the response possible. Without resources, preparedness remains nothing more than a mere intention.”
The hurricane also made it clear that preparedness is not a last-minute effort, but an ongoing investment, based on the premise that “preparedness must be practiced and maintained alongside people and partners, not only when a crisis occurs, but also when a crisis may test us.” Therefore, the lessons from Barbados following this event call for continuing the cycles of the PER mechanism, prioritizing anticipatory action, and advancing legal preparations for disaster law.
From the conceptual framework of the CREP and the IFRC’s Strategy 2030, preparedness is no longer a checklist; today it is defined as integrated institutional capacity to operate in complex crises, encompassing more than 100 interdependent capabilities. As a strategic investment, it is assessed across six key dimensions: governance, planning, operational capacity, coordination, information management, and learning.
For its part, the Honduran Red Cross applies the PER in an integrated manner with other tools (OCAC, BOCA, CHS) in its strategic planning. Faced with recurring risks from hurricanes and droughts, and the historical memory of Hurricanes Mitch, Eta, and Iota, the country prioritizes improving its systems and human resources. The PER is being strengthened in Honduras at the political and strategic levels through integrated committees and councils, which have helped identify gaps in logistics, volunteerism, and humanitarian diplomacy, as well as consolidate early warning systems.
To guide this strengthening, the IFRC uses the PER mechanism, a continuous improvement approach that organically assesses the organization across five critical areas: policy and strategy, analysis and planning, operational capacity, coordination, and operational support. In conclusion, preparedness is no longer measured by stockpiled resources, but by institutional agility and resilience to respond to complex crises. To close the discussions, a fundamental principle was reiterated: “Preparedness is not a destination. It is an institutional capacity that is built, measured, and continuously improved.”
From Words to Action: Protection, Gender and Inclusion in Emergencies
The current humanitarian debate seeks to broaden well beyond traditional emergency management by integrating protection, gender, and inclusion (PGI). The PGI approach sometimes resembles a negotiation process, structured around key tactics. The first of these tactics is to recognize that people do not represent the problem and that, on the contrary, many allies exist on the ground. Integrating PGI reinforces the effectiveness of emergency operations, guarantees the safety of populations, and ensures equitable access to aid, making sure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable people first and without barriers, as their needs differ based on age, gender, or disability. This approach aligns directly with Strategy 2030 and relies on a robust policy framework, signed off by the IFRC and National Societies, to improve operational quality and accountability.
To evaluate the implementation of these principles, an IFRC study on the integration of PGI within Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) operations was conducted. Although this report is not yet officially published, its preliminary findings reveal significant gaps. The analysis of 25 operations across 18 data points shows that PGI integration is weak or absent in 88% of cases, and that this sector received less than 1.3% of global IFRC-DREF budgets in 2024. The report indicates that this lack of prioritization does not stem from deliberate obstruction by teams, but rather from a deficit in technical expertise (know-how). Data regarding sex and disability are not systematically collected during initial needs analyses. Furthermore, accountability tends to rest solely on PGI focal points instead of being shared. To correct these weaknesses, systemic investments are necessary, particularly to adapt IFRC-DREF preparation templates, strengthen risk identification, and consolidate operational monitoring.
The practical application of these standards found a concrete echo within the Cruz Roja Dominicana during its response to Hurricane Melissa in 2025. Historically, PGI was addressed in isolation, mainly through vulnerability and capacity analysis workshops. However, the scale of the emergency highlighted the need to develop a structured, sustainable, and cross-cutting approach. Driven by a sensitized leadership and thanks to the technical support of the IFRC, the institution launched a process to strengthen internal capacities. This initiative allowed administrative staff and technical units to align with protection standards and institutionalize safeguard mechanisms.
A two-phase roadmap was established to respond both to the immediate emergency and to long-term institutional strengthening needs. The first phase focused on short-term protection actions linked to the IFRC-DREF, including the creation of prevention materials, the dissemination of key messages, and the training of volunteers deployed in the field. Specific PGI sessions were also conducted with children and adolescents in schools within affected communities to measure their knowledge of early warning systems. In the longer term, the second phase aims to institutionalize safeguarding through the creation of a multisectoral technical committee and the development of a dedicated institutional policy.
This initial experience directly transformed the response capacity of the Cruz Roja Dominicana during the recent floods caused by intense rains in the country. The institution now possesses internal technical skills to multiply PGI knowledge, identify risks of violence or exclusion, and systematically integrate these criteria into its planning processes. The ongoing development of the institutional safeguarding policy aims to guarantee safe spaces for both beneficiaries and volunteers, thereby reinforcing the trust of communities and donors. This approach reaffirms the organization’s commitment to the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality, demonstrating that protection and inclusion are not secondary options, but essential elements of the humanitarian mission.