Hazard Mitigation in the Caribbean by Ms. Elizabeth Riley Programme Manager, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency ( CDERA) Presented by Brigadier General (R) Earl Arthurs, CDERA Caribbean Training Course in Seismology and Tsunami Warnings June 25-30, 2007, St Augustine, Trinidad

Briefing Agenda Caribbean Hazard Landscape Hazard Mitigation – A Definition How do we effectively implement hazard mitigation? CDM – Providing a common vision and platform at the national and regional level for hazard mitigation implementation Advances to date … Way Forward

Caribbean Reality 1.Caribbean region is very prone to natural hazards 2.Climate variability and change likely to increase frequency and severity of hydro meteorological events 3.Increased exposure to natural hazards within the last two decades 4.Increasing value of losses across all economic sectors – tourism, agriculture, housing, infrastructure 5.Disruption to social infrastructure, loss of livelihoods – poverty links

Economic Damage from Selected Events Hurricane Georges (1998) Saint Kitts - >480M Antigua and Barbuda - >250M Dominica - >170M Hurricane Lenny (1999) Anguilla, Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis >250M Tropical Storm Lily Saint Lucia-7.5M Jamaica Flood (2002) ->100M Trinidad Flood (2000) -2.4M

1. Clarendon Jamaica Flood Event May 2002 (Acknowledgement JDF) Experiences

Palmiste, Grenada Lenny 1999 Experiences

Grenada Lenny 1999

Experiences have revealed that … “Each natural disaster leaves in its wake an overwhelming volume of evidence of how planning and investment decisions contribute to vulnerability ” Natural Hazard Risk Management in the Caribbean Revisiting the Challenge CGCED 2002

Hazard Mitigation Definition: ISDR Structural and non-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse impact of natural hazards, environmental degradation and technological hazards. (In climate change terminology, hazard mitigation is synonymous with adaptation to some degree. Climate change adaptation is an adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.)

Hazard Mitigation Measures Structural Measures … include any actions that require the construction or strengthening of facilities or altering of the environment to reduce the effects of a hazard event Examples: retrofitting of buildings; building of sea defenses Non-Structural Measures … are policies and programs that guide future development and investment towards reduced hazard vulnerability. Examples: physical development plans, development regulations, building code development and enactment; acquisition of hazardous properties, tax and fiscal incentives and public education

“… mitigating the impacts of hazards means making choices with respect to development.” Extracted from the Model National Hazard Mitigation Policy for the Caribbean CDERA and CDB 2003

Effectively Implementing Hazard Mitigation … key requirements 1.Hazard Mitigation is inherently a multi-sectoral activity … it requires considerable inter-agency co-ordination, the involvement of the private sector and the cooperation and support of civil society. 2.In carrying out hazard mitigation activities the intent is to focus on actions that produce sustained benefits over time (money spent on mitigation activities today will significantly reduce human suffering, infrastructural damage and the demand for large sums of money in the future when extreme natural or man-made events occur) 3.An overarching disaster risk reduction framework – A COMMON VISION of where we need to be and a COMMON PLATFORM to get there

CDM - A Paradigm Shift ReactiveAnticipatory Disaster OfficeShared 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 )

COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT (CDM) revised 2007 GOAL Regional Sustainable Development enhanced through Comprehensive Disaster Management

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.

COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT Integrate hazard risk reduction into planning and development Integrated management of all hazards Management of all phases of Disaster Management Cycle:  Prevention and Mitigation  Preparedness and Response  Recovery and Restoration/Rehabilitation

COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT Emphasizes natural hazard risk reduction promotes a “culture of safety” Encourages strategic partner alliances Advocates for empowering of sector partners to (take responsibility) and lead dissemination and advocacy with their constituency Recognizes that strengthening disaster preparedness for better response is critical

COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT Priority Outcomes 1.Enhanced institutional support for CDM Program implementation at national and regional levels 2.An effective mechanism and programme for management of comprehensive disaster management knowledge has been established 3.Disaster Risk Management has been mainstreamed at national levels and incorporated into key sectors of national economies (including tourism, health, agriculture and nutrition) 4.Enhanced community resilience in CDERA states/ territories to mitigate and respond to the adverse effects of climate change and disasters

Advances to Date … 1.Overarching programming framework – CDM 2.Model Hazard Mitigation Policy and Adaptation Guide (CDERA and CDB 2003 with support of CIDA and USAID) 3.Hazard Mitigation Policies developed in 5 CDERA Participating States 4.Survey on Hazard Mapping and Vulnerability Assessments in 20 Caribbean Countries 2003 (assessment of hazard identification initiatives)

Advances to Date … CDERA – Hazard Mitigation Initiatives:  CHAMP 2002 – 2007 – CIDA funded  CADM 2002 – 2005 – JICA funded  Negotiating hazard mitigation follow up initiatives with JICA, CIDA and other development partners Caribbean Development Bank –  Disaster Mitigation Facility for the Caribbean 2001 – 2006  Planned permanent position on Disaster Risk Reduction within the CDB  Mitigation projects in portfolio

Advances to Date … University of the West Indies  Disaster Risk Reduction Center Established National Level:  Hazard Mitigation Councils established and functioning in selected CDERA Participating States  Clear recognition of the need to advance risk identification to inform mitigation decisions  Mitigation Officer positions established in selected CDERA Participating States

Way Forward 1.Still a need to give attention to risk identification. Understanding the location and possible intensity of hazards is critical to determining mitigation measures needed 2.Institutional arrangements at the national level for hazard mitigation 3.Institutional strengthening of National Disaster Organizations to effectively lead and coordinate 4.Documentation of working practices and sharing of experiences 5.Integration of hazard and vulnerability information into our development planning processes

Way Forward 6.Standardized approaches to hazard and vulnerability assessment 7.Application of the knowledge through inter alia early warning systems 8.Utilization of post disaster as a window of opportunity for integration of hazard mitigation measures 9.Building community resilience through risk identification and empowering to undertake mitigation measures

Thank you!