Washington DC, Thursday March 25, 2010 CARICOM’S Experience in Comprehensive Disaster Management Part 1 – CDEMA & the Regional Response Mechanism Presented by Lt Col Clyde Parris, Defense Attaché, Embassy of Barbados for and on behalf of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Washington DC, Thursday March 25, 2010

Presentation Overview Caribbean Vulnerability to Hazards The Role and Function of CDEMA CDM – A Regional Framework for Cooperation and Resource Sharing in Disaster Management CDEMA & the Regional Response Mechanism The Way Forward 9/17/2018

CARIBBEAN VULNERABILITY TO HAZARDS 9/17/2018

Hazards and Caribbean Reality 2nd most hazard prone region Increased exposure to natural hazards within the last two decades Three times more disasters in 1990’s than in the 1970’s Regular annual losses of US$ 3 billion Increasing significant losses to social and productive sectors (tourism, agriculture, housing, infrastructure) > 68% Loss to GDP Climate variability and change likely to increase frequency and severity of hydro-meteorological events 9/17/2018

Disaster Experiences 1. Dominica Earthquake, 2004 Clarendon Jamaica Flood Event May 2002 (Acknowledgement JDF) Palmiste, Grenada – Hurricane Lenny, 1999 Volcanic Eruption, Montserrat (Montserrat Volcano Observatory) Grenada - Hurricane Lenny, 1999 Dominica Earthquake, 2004 9/17/2018

Disaster Impact Quantified TIME PLACE DISASTER IMPACT 1988 Jamaica Hurricane Gilbert 65% GDP 1989 5 countries Hurricane Hugo US$412 M 1999 Dominica Hurricane Lenny 53% GDP 2004 Haiti & DR Flooding 270 deaths Grenada Hurricane Ivan US$895 M US$592 M 2005 Guyana 60% GDP 9/17/2018

Institutionalizing Frameworks for Disaster Management Growing decisive action at the regional level Evolution from improvisation and largely adhoc response to systematic disaster preparedness and response (1960s-1990s) Dedicated and more advanced disaster management institutions at the regional and national levels (CDERA ,1991/CDEMA, 2009 and NDOs) Movement towards and adoption of Comprehensive Disaster Management (Strategy and Results Framework developed 2001, revised in 2006) 9/17/2018

THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (CDEMA) 9/17/2018

Overview of CDEMA CDEMA (formally CDERA) is the regional inter-governmental Agency responsible for disaster management in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) CDERA established in 1991 by an Agreement of Heads of Government of CARICOM September 1, 2009 – official date of transition from CDERA to CDEMA 18 Participating States with others as observers 9/17/2018

CARILEC 2010 SAFETY CONFERENCE,SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES CDEMA Map Overview of CDEMA CDEMA (formally CDERA) is a regional inter-governmental Agency responsible for disaster management in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) CDERA established in 1991 by an Agreement of Heads of Government of CARICOM September 1, 2009 – official date of transition from CDERA to CDEMA 18 Participating States with others as observers CARILEC 2010 SAFETY CONFERENCE,SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES 9/17/2018

International Agencies National Disaster Offices CDEMA Structure National Governments Council of Ministers International Agencies Technical Advisory Committee Regional Agencies Coordinating Unit National Disaster Offices Executive Director Deputy E.D. CDEMA CU Staff 9/17/2018

Background CDEMA is established on principles of inter-governmental cooperation A number of small states with large vulnerabilities and limited individual capacity Rationalizing diverse actions towards a common goal was central to operationalizing the Agreement 9/17/2018

CDEMA’s Functions (a) mobilising and coordinating disaster relief; (b) mitigating or eliminating, as far as practicable, the immediate consequences of disasters in Participating States; (c) providing immediate and coordinated response by means of emergency disaster relief to any affected Participating State; (d) securing, coordinating and providing to interested inter-governmental and nongovernmental organisations reliable and comprehensive information on disasters affecting any Participating State; 9/17/2018

CDEMA’s Functions (cont’d) (e) encouraging – (i) the adoption of disaster loss reduction and mitigation policies and practices at the national and regional level; (ii) cooperative arrangements and mechanisms to facilitate the development of a culture of disaster loss reduction; and (iii) coordinating the establishment, enhancement and maintenance of adequate emergency disaster response capabilities among the Participating States. 9/17/2018

CDM – A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATION AND RESOURCE SHARING IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT 9/17/2018

What is Comprehensive Disaster Management? Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) is the management of all hazards through all phases of the disaster management cycle – prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation by all peoples public and private sectors, all segments of civil society and the general population in hazard prone areas. CDM involves risk reduction & management and integration of vulnerability assessment into the development planning process. (CDERA 2001, 2006) 9/17/2018

CDM – A Paradigm Shift (CGCED 2002) Reactive Anticipatory Disaster Office Shared Responsibility FROM: a focus on individual hazards TO: viewing hazard exposure as an ongoing process and aims to reduce vulnerability across all sectors (CGCED 2002) 9/17/2018

CDM in Context Global and Regional Agendas: Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 CARICOM Regional Programming Framework 2005 – 2015 Caribbean Single Market and Economy St. George’s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States) 9/17/2018

CDM Benefits A regional framework for disaster management: Emphasizes natural hazard risk reduction Promotes a “culture of safety” Recognizes that strengthening disaster preparedness for better response is critical Encourages strategic partner alliances Advocates for empowering of sector partners to (take responsibility) and lead dissemination and advocacy with their constituency 9/17/2018

Partnerships for Risk Reduction: A Key Pillar of CDM Since its inception, CDEMA has pursued a policy of collaboration with national, regional and international organisations which have overlapping interests Minimises duplication Ensures more rational use of the limited resources available to the region Ensures that technical assistance provided is of the highest quality as each agency is allowed to take the lead in the area where it has specific technical expertise 9/17/2018

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Regional Partnerships The Caribbean Development Bank The Caribbean Catastrophic Risk Insurance Facility The Caribbean Water & Waste Water Association The Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology The Caribbean Agriculture Research & Development institute The Inter American Development Bank The Pan American Health Organization The Regional Security System The University of the West indies The West Indies Cricket Board Plus CARICOM Agencies (IMPACS, etc) 9/17/2018

Intra-Regional Partnerships Information Sharing Conferences, Workshops & Exercises: CEPREDENAC – The Central American Centre for the Coordination & Prevention of Natural Disasters: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador & Panama CAPADRE – The South American Northern Zone Committee for Disaster Prevention and Assistance: Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru & Venezuela MERCOSUR (Southern Cone) – The Committee for the Prevention and Handling of Disasters: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay & Uruguay 9/17/2018

International Partnerships A number of international partners provide support in: Project sponsorships Training Workshops Regional Exercises Relief Supplies Warehouses & Emergency Operations Centre Construction Assessments 9/17/2018

CDM Strategy Summary Goal Regional Sustainable Development enhanced through Comprehensive Disaster Management Purpose To strengthen regional, national and community level capacity for the mitigation, management and coordinated response to natural and anthropological hazards, and the effects of climate change 9/17/2018

CDM Strategy and Framework 2007-2012: OUTCOMES Enhanced institutional support for CDM Program implementation at national and regional levels An effective mechanism and programme for management and sharing of CDM knowledge is established and utilized for decision making Comprehensive Disaster Management has been mainstreamed at national levels and incorporated into key sectors of national economies (including tourism, health, education, infrastructure, planning and agriculture) Enhanced community resilience in CDERA states/ territories to mitigate and respond to the adverse effects of climate variability and change and disasters 9/17/2018

CDM Strategy and Framework 2007 - 2012 9/17/2018

CDM and Response Operations 9/17/2018

OUTCOMES 1 and 3: Response Coordination Output 1.5 - Improved coordination at national and regional levels for disaster management Output 4.1 - Preparedness, response and mitigation capacity (technical and managerial) is enhanced among public, private and civil sector entities for local level management and response 9/17/2018

CDEMA & THE REGIONAL REPONSE MECHANISM (The RRM) 9/17/2018

“No State, no matter how powerful, can by its own efforts alone make itself invulnerable to today’s threats. Every State requires the cooperation of other States to make itself secure. It is in every State’s interest, accordingly, to cooperate with other States to address their most pressing threats, because doing so will maximize the chances of reciprocal cooperation to address its own threat priorities.” (Report of United Nations High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change December 2004 – A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility.) 9/17/2018

Response Operations in CDEMA Participating States The Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) is an arrangement for the coordination of disaster response among CDEMA Participating States, Regional and International Agencies Seeks to deliver speedy response and effective and efficient use and management of resources Tried and tested mechanism for emergency coordination – familiarity of actors and processes. 9/17/2018

The Regional Response Mechanism: An Overview The RRM is: A number of Plans, Procedures & Guidelines A group of Response Units, agencies and organizations A collection of Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding and Protocols Executed by the CDEMA Coordinated Unit on behalf of CDEMA Participating States 9/17/2018

Components of the Regional Response Mechanism The Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) The Regional Coordination Plan (RCP) The Regional Telecommunications Plan Response Teams The CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU) The Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT) The Regional Urban Search & Rescue Light Level Team (USAR LL) The Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG) The North Western Caribbean Donor Group (NWCDG) National Disaster Plans, Specialized Plans, etc. Regional Warehouses MOU, Acts, SOPs 9/17/2018

The Regional Response Mechanism 9/17/2018

Coordination of the RRM CDEMA CU coordinates the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) in the Caribbean CDEMA CU is the focal point for effecting the plan with the support of other partners (donors, specialized agencies etc.) CDEMA CU solicits assistance on behalf of and for its 18 Participating States Response philosophy: CDEMA's response to natural and technological disasters will be dictated by the type, magnitude and complexity of the emergency and by the Participating State(s) capacity to respond 9/17/2018

Triggering the Mechanism The Regional Coordination Plan defines the framework for effecting the multi-lateral agreements of CDERA PS to assist each other in times of disasters Organised in 2 Parts: Basic Plan: triggering mechanism for activating plan (3 levels) and concept of operations Functional Annexes: SOPs for specific response functions (SAR) or specialized groups (ECDG, CDRU); References (CDERA Agreement, MOU) The RCP is in support of National Plans and as such the National Plans must make provisions for triggering the RRM System based on a three tiered response mechanism 9/17/2018

CDEMA CU – monitoring and information sharing Levels of Response LEVEL I - Local Incident - no external assistance required An incident at the local level in any of CDEMA Participating States for which resources are adequate and available CDEMA CU – monitoring and information sharing 9/17/2018

Levels of Response Cont’d LEVEL II- Specialized Equipment and Experts Event does not overwhelm national capacity to respond but some external assistance required (e.g. Andrew - Bahamas, 1992. Debby - St Lucia, 1994, Keith - Belize, 2000, Dean – Jamaica, 2007) State of emergency may or may not be declared CDEMA CU provides technical assistance, specialized equipment, support personnel 9/17/2018

Levels of Response Cont’d LEVEL III – Support Required Event overwhelms capacity of affected State to respond. Major external operation mounted. Possible request for additional support from other regions and international agencies anticipated (Hurricanes Gilbert – Jamaica, 1988, Hugo – Montserrat, 1989, Lenny – 7 Eastern Caribbean Countries, 1999, Ivan – Grenada, 2004) 9/17/2018

Response Teams Regional USAR LL Team The CDRU for 2009/2010 9/17/2018

Regional USAR LL Team Training 9/17/2018

EXERCISE FAHUM 2009 This allowed CDERA the opportunity to deploy the CDRU, the Regional SAR Team & the Rapid Needs Assessment Team to the impacted state during the Exercise 9/17/2018

The Way Forward CDEMA CU will continue to: Act as a hub for information, consultation and coordination for the region Provide Participating States and regional/international partners with a focal point for coordination Conduct regional simulation/tests (FAHUM, TradeWinds, Region Rap) with key regional, intra-regional and international actors 9/17/2018

CDEMA CU Point of Contact: CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (CDEMA) Building No. 1, Manor Lodge Complex Lodge Hill, Saint Michael, BARBADOS Tel. No. (246) 425-0386 Fax. No. (246) 425-8854 Email: cdera@caribsurf.com URL: www.cdera.org 9/17/2018

THE END ANY QUESTIONS??? YOU 464646 THANK 9/17/2018