National Workshop On DRR Country Profile Document for Saint Lucia Situation Analysis Presented on September 11, 2012 Components of this presentation came from Primer Nos. 9 and 32 of the Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction

CONTENTS 1.About the CP-DRR for Saint Lucia 2.Context for DRR in Saint Lucia 3.National DRM Framework 4.Current and Future Disaster Vulnerability – Priority Issues 5.DRR Concept 6.Recommendations and Conclusions

Country Profile Document for DRR: Purpose Provide a comprehensive overview of the status of DRR in the country. Assessment of progress made and of the processes implemented for the reduction of vulnerability and the strengthening of resilience to risks caused by natural and other hazards. Harmonize and link existing DRR information in the country. Identify DRR Priorities and Strategic Directions.

Country Profile Document for DRR - Purpose  Important reference document for the design of policies and strategies, the planning and implementation of DRR activities, and decision making for action by representatives of national systems, organizations and institutions that work on DRR in the country and international cooperation agencies.  It is expected that the Document will be used to influence authorities at various levels of national management, as well as to facilitate the establishment of channels for mutual help and cooperation.

Chapter 1: Summary for Policy Makers Chapter 2: List of Acronyms Chapter 3: Introduction Chapter 4: Approach and Methodology Chapter 5: International and Regional Context for DRR Chapter 6: National Circumstances Chapter 7: The DRR Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework Country Profile Document for DRR Table of Contents

Chapter 8: State of Disaster Risk Reduction in Saint LuciaChapter 9: Risk Assessment for Country DRRChapter 10: Strategic Guidelines for Country DRRChapter 11: Conclusions and Recommendations Country Profile Document for DRR Table of Contents

Saint Lucia, like other SIDS, is highly prone to devastating natural disasters; also increasing incidence of anthropogenic (man-made) disasters. The potentially deleterious effects of global climate change and natural and man-made catastrophes (earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and volcanic activity) on the country’s economic resources (e.g. land resources) are becoming increasingly difficult to anticipate;  these include loss of lives, livelihoods and severe damage to infrastructure and economic assets These events and their adverse consequences are projected to escalate in the near and longer terms. Context for DRR in Saint Lucia

DISASTER RISKS FACED BY SAINT LUCIA DISASTER RISKS FACED BY SAINT LUCIA FIRES HURRICANES VOLCANOES FLOODS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS DEVELOP POLICIES FOR ACTIONS HAVING HIGH BENEFIT/COST FOR THE CARIBBEAN REGION GOAL: REDUCE DISASTER RISK LANDSLIDES EARTHQUAKES MEDICAL EMERGENCIES Context for DRR in Saint Lucia Source: Primer Series Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

International Context for DRR Fulfilling obligations under global conventions and agreements: -Johannesburg Declaration, the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation (MSI) of Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration and the MDGs ; -the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) (follow on to Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World (1994); -International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR).

Regional Context: DRM Regional drivers are policy commitments in regional agreements such as: St George’s Declaration of Principles of Environmental Sustainability in the OECS (SGD), 1979 CDM Strategy, Kingston Declaration (2006) Saint Marc Plan of Action (2007)

The Pan-Caribbean Disaster Preparedness Project (PCDPP) was established in 1981 to improve national and regional Disaster Management in the Caribbean. With headquarters in Antigua, it was launched jointly by the United Nations Disaster Relief Organisation (UNDRO) now the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA), CARICOM, Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), and the League of Red Cross Societies (Red Cross). [SOURCE: Caribbean Development Bank: Strategy and Operational Guidelines – 1998] PCDPP was the forerunner of CDERA which later became CDEMA. Regional Context: DRM

Disasters Climate Change Adverse impacts of climate change on society may increases the vulnerability to disasters. Disasters erode community resilience, thus increasing vulnerability to climate change. National Context: DRR and CC

National Context: DRR NEMP, CDM and CC GOAL Regional Sustainable Development enhanced through Comprehensive Disaster Management PURPOSE ‘To strengthen regional, national and community level capacity for mitigation, management, and coordinated response to natural and technological hazards, and the effects of climate change. OUTCOME 1: Enhanced institutional support for CDM Program implementation at national and regional levels OUTCOME 2: An effective mechanism and programme for management of comprehensive disaster OUTCOME 3: Disaster Risk Management has been mainstreamed at national levels and incorporated into key sectors of national economies (including tourism, health, agriculture and nutrition) OUTCOME 4: Enhanced community resilience in CDEMA states/ territories to mitigate and respond to the adverse effects of climate change and disasters Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy [Cabinet Approved 1151/2009]

National CDM– Expected Outcomes 1. A population aware & educated about preparedness for & the impacts of hazards/ disasters; 2. Enhanced integration of CDM into & preparedness of all sectors for hazards/ disasters; 3. Planning and development enhanced through disaster mitigation & improved integration of hazard/vulnerability data; 4. Reduced vulnerability/enhanced resilience of communities to mitigate/respond to hazards/disasters; 5. Emergency operations (response and relief) capacity enhanced; and, 6.CDM integrated into national policies/ laws/ strategies & NEMO Activities.

National DRM Framework Secretariat

Water & Sewage Act No. 14 of 2005 Health Practitioners Act of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia Police Act 2004 Chapter of the Revised Laws of Saint Lucia Education Act No. 41 of 1999 Employees [Occupational Health and Safety] Act No. 10 of 1985 Industrial and Commercial Buildings [Fire Safety] Act No. 14 of 1972 Consumer Protection Bill Mass Crowd Events Bill Animal Health Bill Veterinary Surgeons Bill National DRM Framework: Instruments of Authority

Responsible for assisting with the annual review of the National Emergency Management Plan. National DRM Framework: NEMAC

Executive Summary Standing Operating Procedures [SOPs] Policies and Guidelines Committee Plans Hazard Specific Plans Government Agency Plans Agreements National DRM Framework: NEMP

Hazard Mitigation Council The Impact of Climate Change on Design Wind Speeds [Cabinet Approved 1151/2009] Engineering Guidelines for Incorporating Climate Change into the Determination of Wind Forces [Cabinet Approved 1151/2009] DRAFT: Towards an Integrated Natural Hazard Risk Management Policy and Strategy for Saint Lucia [Harmonizing Climate Change and Hazard Mitigation] DRAFT: Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy and Programming Framework National DRM Framework: NEMP, DRR and CC

National DRM Framework

Current and Future Vulnerability – Priority Issues Hazard analysis and experience have confirmed that Saint Lucia is at risk from natural, anthropogenic (man-made) and “slow onset” hazards

Extreme Heat Events?? Drought?? Current and Future Vulnerability – Priority Issues Climate Change: New Challenge

Impact Across all sectors Current and Future Vulnerability – Priority Issues

DRM? DRR? Pre-DisasterPreventionMitigationPreparedness Disaster/ Emergency Response Post-DisasterRecoveryDevelopment

DRM? DRR? According to the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Macro Socio- Economic Damage Assessment report (December 2010), the total impact from Hurricane Tomas represents 43.4% of Saint Lucia’s GDP - nine times its agricultural GDP, three times its tourism GDP, 62% of exports of goods and services, 19% of its gross domestic investment and 47% of its public external debt.

DRR Concept To develop and utilise the capacities of all stakeholders to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards.

Recommendations Country should consider a strategic shift from Preparedness Response and Recovery to Planning, Prevention and Mitigation – “protect development gains” Ownership of DRR process by all stakeholders: National Government Local Government District Disaster Committees NGOs, CBOs, FBOs Business sector Finance and Insurance sectors Professional Associations Academic and technical institutions Media

THE KEY IS: 1) GET TOKNOW THE DISASTER HISTORY OF YOUR REGION/ COMMUNITY 2) “AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE” Conclusion Source: Primer Series Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction

National Emergency Management Plan at Hand-Outs:  NEMP Executive Summary Bibliography