The Virgin Islands and some of its neighbours in the region are basing a new system of risk management and prevention on an Italian model, officials said.

As part of the planning process, the Department of Disaster Management recently hosted a stakeholders meeting in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, according to Government Information Services.

Attendees discussed the “DEWETRA Platform,” a real-time system for risk forecasting, monitoring and prevention designed by an Italian company, CIMA Research Foundation, a GIS press release stated.

“The system offers a flexible and robust tool to support the operational activities of civil protection in Italy and is being replicated in countries within the CDEMA membership,” the release added.

The initiative is receiving financial support from the Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean Region Project, known as ERC, which is funded by the Italian Development Cooperation.

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