BVI MITIGATION PROGRAMME C D E R A C A R I C O M U N D P Disaster Emergency Response Management Systems Project BVI MITIGATION PROGRAMME By Donovan Gentles INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER CDERA BACKGROUND: The BVI’s Disaster Management Programme was designed to be holistic and comprehensive in order to raise the level of awareness, preparedness and planning not only for hurricanes but also for the other hazards that the Territory is prone to. The work prog of the ODP was designed with this mission in mind under four programme areas: Hazard Mitigation Welfare Services Emer. Resp and Telecomms Pub. Educ, Info. & Training Perhaps the weakest area was Hazard Mitigation --- hence the HRAP BVI fortunate ….project to form basis/foundation for mitigation prog rather that the opposite.

THE NATIONAL DISASTER STRUCTURE GOVERNOR EXCO NEAC NEEC ODP I&T HEALTH EMER. OPS & TELECOMMS MIT & DAM MPAG WELFARE ROAD CLEAR FIN & ADMIN

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE MANAGEMENT OF ODP EMER. OPS & LOGISTICS NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATOR CLERICAL OFFICER TYPING, FILING ORGANISING MEETINGS DISASTER PREP OFFICER EMER. TELE OFFICER INFO & TRNG MANAGER SNR. EXEC OFFICER WELFARE & RELIEF DISTRICT ACTIVITIES MANAGE RADIO RM TELECOMMS TRAINING PUBLIC EDUC & PUBLICATIONS INFO. PROCESSING OFFICE MGMT VOTE BOOK PERSONNEL

PUBLIC EDUC., INFO. & TRAINING EMER. RESPONSE & TELECOMMS WORK PROGRAMME HAZARD MITIGATION SHELTER PROGRAMME PUBLIC EDUC., INFO. & TRAINING EMER. RESPONSE & TELECOMMS

BVI MITIGATION PROGRAMME OUTPUTS National policy Mitigation Plan Mitigation Legislation Institutional Framework Mitigation Projects It was determined that in order to arrive at the desired outputs these areas would have to be addressed. The outputs must inform these areas. National Policy to provide overall direction Mitigation Plan to provide framework identifying linkages with other sectors, key players etc.

BVI MITIGATION PROGRAMME OVERALL OBJECTIVE To Reduce the Impacts From Natural and Man-made Disasters Secondary obj. - to reduce impacts of Technological disasters, complex disasters. Project did not consider these classes of disasters but more the traditional ones

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES Identify Hazards Estimate Potential Losses Develop Strategies Identify hazards that territory is susceptible to Estimate potential losses in Economic and physical sectors Fashion strategies which would counteract impacts identified

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT METHODOLOGY Use of Geographic Information System Consultants Multi-agency Collaboration Disaster Management Database Deliberate strategy to use GIS platform from the outset rather than the conventional ways of conducting assessment. Both Arcview and Idrisi were used Used practicing experts who are currently developing methodologies used - cutting edge Involved all relevant local agencies - consultations, information sharing, providing resources

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT ACTIVITIES Multi-hazard Mapping Inventory of Risks Elements Vulnerability and Risk Analyses Mitigation Strategies

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT INVENTORY OF RISK ELEMENTS Population centers Essential Services Major infrastructure Public & Lifeline Facilities Economic Activity Sought to inventorise critical elements of economy that could potentially be at risk from hazards identified In carrying out the inventory existing digital maps from T&CPD were used then ground truthed in the field. Maps were updated. Uniquecodes and categories were designed which makes the process of identifying individual features and hence quickly costing and damage to them. Refer to chap 7 - Inventory maps

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS Field Surveys Establish Vulnerability Produce Maps Vulnerability was established by assigning categories of risk. Standard practice Refer to Chap 8. Invite planners to look at classification of Buildings

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT RISK ASSESSMENT Calculation of Risks Production of Risk Maps depicting levels of Risk Loss estimation: The total value (replacement cost) of each building in the Road Town Area was calculated. $97M for residential and $128M for commercial buildings Total estimated potential BVI losses = US$450M (Building damage from Hurricanes)

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT MITIGATION STRATEGIES Share Project Results Joint Strategies Establish Standards Guidelines for Development Planning Share project results to achieve integration with other key stake holders Joint strategies with those agencies who have some developmental function to ensure that recommendations are incorporated. Agree on standards across the board with which all agencies concerned would work with Strategies to inform development guidelines as they are developed

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT OUTPUTS Final Report Disaster Management Long-term Development Planning Linking of Databases * Show final report Quote some of the mitigation strategies and recommendations Real time application for disaster managers - interactive database, overlaying of different variables and attributes Recommendations to inform long term development planning Database developed will be incorporated into T&CPD data set. Other agencies such as Cons & Fish, BVIELEC and NPT also integrated.

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT MITIGATION STRATEGIES for existing structures Relocate structures Protect Structures Retrofitting General Mitigation Strategies Report goes on to make recommendations for mitigation of specific hazards

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT MITIGATION STRATEGIES CONT’D for future development Location Protection Hazard Resistant Design

BVI MITIGATION PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION MATRIX AGENCY ACTIVITY TCPD PWD PVT L Ss Sp RELOCATION L Ss RETROFIT L = LEAD AGENCY Ss = SECONDARY Sp = SUPPORTING