30 Jun 2014

Broadcasters build disaster plans

6:58 am on 30 June 2014

The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme says it will be rolling out climate and disaster resilience plans to eight countries by April next year.

A spokesman Wilson Toa says national broadcasters from the Cook Islands, Palau and Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will all be involved.

He says the aim is to help broadcasters provide better quality and more timely information during natural disasters.

He says he hopes they can build relationships with disaster management offices and police so they are all more prepared in emergencies.

"Another thing that we would want to see as well is the organisations accept the plan. The management and the staff are well trained of the plans and a six monthly drill happens throughout and the organisations take it on board as part and parcel of the organisations activities."

The Pacific Media Assistance Scheme research officer, Wilson Toa.