Caribbean Disaster Preparedness and Response Workshop

Caribbean Disaster Preparedness and Response Workshop and Resource Advisor (RA) Training

 This in-person workshop is sponsored by the Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC/CSE) in collaboration with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration and Gulf of Mexico Disaster Response Center.

Dates:

Caribbean Disaster Response Workshop participants

     March 16 - 19, 2026

Agenda:

    Here >>

Participants:

     Here>>

Workshop Presentations:

      March 16

• Welcome and Overview of Objectives - Nancy Kinner, CRRC and Yaritza Rivera, NOAA Marinde Debris Program
• Tsunamis and Earthquakes (Integration of the Blind and Visually Impaired Warnings) - Christa von Hillebrandt-Andrade, NOAA International Tsunami Information Center Caribbean Office
• Hurricanes and Extreme Heat - Ernesto Rodriguez, NOAA NWS WFO San Juan
• Anthropogenic Disasters - Brad Benggio, NOAA OR&R ERD

March 17

• Health and Wellness for Disaster Preparedness and Response, Physical and Psychological Health and Resources - Savannah Turner, NOAA and CDR George Mitzner, U.S. Public Health Service, NOAA
• Health and Wellbeing During Extreme Heat, Preparedness in Puerto Rico - Pablo Méndez-Lázaro, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus
• Reducing disaster risk in forestry and agriculture: Lessons learned to build resilience – William Gould, USDA Caribbean Climate Hub
• Working with Community Leaders for Disaster Preparedness - Lillian Ramirez Durand, Sea Grant Puerto Rico, Coastal Communities Development and Climate Extension

• Resources and Best Practices for Disaster Preparedness regarding abandoned vessels legislation and actions taken for community engagement - Nilda Jimenez Marrero, DNER

  March 18

• Natural Resource Considerations During Disaster Response - Helena Antoun, NOAA NMFS
• Endangered Species Act and Best Management Practices - Felix Lopez, USFWS and
• Endangered and Protected Species - Nilda Jimenez Marrero, DNER
• USCG Roles and Coordination for Response – Ray Lopez, USCG
• USCG Port Procedures during Hurricane Season - Ismael Torres, USCG

• Resource Advisor Training

• The Roles of the Resource Advisor - Jessica Conway, NOAA, Office of Response and Restoration, Marine Debris Program
• ICS and NIMS Overview and The Role of RAs – Felix Lopez, USFWS
• Best Management Practices Discussion - Timyn Rice, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

March 19

Incident Command Structure (ICS)

Coastal and Marine Salvage Techniques

• Laws and Regulations –Nilda Jimenez Marrero, DNER
• Trustee Perspective - Brad Benggio, NOAA ORR
• Techniques and Best Management Practices – Clint Williams, T&T Group of Companies & American Salvage Association
• Environmental Sensitivity Index maps - Timyn Rice
• NOAA’s Environmental Response Management Application - Robb Wright, NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, Spatial Data Branch
• Introduction to Environmental Tradeoff Training - Felix Lopez
  • Case Study: Vessel Removal from state park (Hurricane Michael) - Timyn Rice
  • Case Study: Scuttling Offshore Berman and Defiance - Brad Benggio
  • Case Study: Dispersant Use Fortuna Reefer- Brad Benggio

News and Resources:

• Caribbean Oil Spill Planning Summary Map
• Puerto Rico ESI Legend
• Resource Advisor's Guide for Oil Spills (READ), by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service R4 Spill Response Group
• DOI Resource Advisor (READ) Basic Course (course description), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Benggio, B., Scholz, D., Anderson, D., Dillon, J., Masson, G., Nelson, L., Odess, D., & Petras, E. (2014). Addressing the Uncertainty and Requirements for Oil Spill Response Consultations. International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings, 2014(1), 1881–1898. ​

Location:

     U.S. Coast Guard Facility in Río Bayamón
     500 Carr. 177, Guaynabo, Bayamón 00959
     Puerto Rico

Lodging:

     Hyatt Place Bayamón
     11560 Ave Comerio
     Bayamon, Puerto Rico
     Call: 787.779.5000

Steering Committee:

     Nancy Kinner, Co-Director, Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC) at University of New Hampshire (UNH)

     Brooke Williams Shevlin, NOAA Disaster Response Center

     Yaritza Rivera, NOAA Marine Debris Program, Caribbean

     Allyssa Zebrowski, NOAA Disaster Preparedness Program

     Brad Benggio, NOAA OR&R Emergency Response Division

     Jessica Conway, NOAA Marine Debris Program

     Adam Davis, NOAA OR&R

     Brita Berry, NOAA OR&R

     Elizabeth Hieb, NOAA Disaster Response Center

Questions? Please contact Kathy Mandsager