1 Panel on Multi Sectoral Framework: A District Perspective of Disaster Management in Saint Lucia A....

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Panel on Multi Sectoral Framework:

A District Perspective of Disaster Management in Saint Lucia

A. L. Dawn French

Director - National Emergency Management Organisation (Saint Lucia)

B.Sc. (Hons.), MA (EPDC), PostGrad Dip (RCDM) MRTPI, APA, IAEM

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Our Place in the World

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Our Place in the World

There are many mandates for Disaster Management…

CDERA

CDERA's main function is to make an immediate and coordinated response to any disastrous event affecting any Participating

State, once the state requests such assistance.

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Our Place in the World

OECS Declaration of Principles.

Principle 9

Prevent and Manage the Causes and Impacts of Disaster

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NEMO

The role of the National Emergency Management Organisation [NEMO] is to develop, test and implement adequate measures to protect the

population of Saint Lucia from the physical, social, environmental and economic effects of both natural

and man-made disasters.

Its responsibility is to ensure the efficient functioning of preparedness, prevention, mitigation

and response actions.

Our Place in the World

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Deputy ChairmanCabinet Secretary

Chairman - NEMOPrime Minister

Director ofEmergency

Management Office

Deputy Director ofEmergency

Management Office

Commissioner of Police

Chief Fire Officer

Chief Medical Officer

DirectorMeteorological Services

Comptroller Customs and Excise

Coordinator Crisis Management Unit

Secretary

ChairmanInformation

ChairmanDANA

ChairmanTelecom

ChairmanTransport

ChairmanWorks

ChairmanSupply

Management

Chairman Shelters

ChairmanOil Spills

OperationsOperations

LogisticsLogistics

PS – Ministry of FinancePS – Ministry of Establishment

PS – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PS – Ministry of PlanningPS – Ministry of Tourism

PS – Ministry of Agriculture

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NEMO’s District Disaster Committees

Gros Islet

Dennery North and South

Micoud North and South

Vieux Fort North and South

Castries: North, South,

North-East, East,

South-East & Central

Anse la Raye

Canaries

Soufriere

Choiseul

Laborie

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District Disaster Committee Structure

Eighteen District Committees

Chairman

Deputy Chairman

Secretary

ChairmanDamage Assessment

ChairmanTelecom

ChairmanShelters & Welfare

ChairmanWorks

Chairman Supply

Management

Chairman Transport

District CommitteesDistrict Committees

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Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM)

CDM is the integrated management of all natural and human-induced hazards, involving management

through all phases of the Disaster Management Cycle (prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response,

recovery and restoration). CDM engages the public and private sectors, civil society, urban and rural

communities, and the general population in hazard prone areas. CDM is therefore multi-hazard, and multi-

sectoral in its application and is concerned primarily with integrating vulnerability assessment and risk

reduction into development planning and management.

Source: cdera.org

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CDM – Intermediate Results

CDM has five IRs

IR-1

Addresses Institutional Strengthening within Regional and National Institutions.

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Comprehensive Disaster Management

IR-2

Centers on Research and Training activities, for Participating States.

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Comprehensive Disaster Management

IR-3

Concentrates on CDM incorporation and promotion. The activities related to this section involve the development of a comprehensive approach for Disaster Management, which is

intended to build support for CDM at the national level; and donor coordination to support the emergency phase of a major

disaster.

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Comprehensive Disaster Management

IR-4

Pinpoints Preparedness, Response and Mitigation measures.

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Comprehensive Disaster Management

IR-5

Centers on Hazard Information and Physical Planning in Participating States.

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Comprehensive Disaster Management

Partners

CDERA, CDB/DMFC, CIDA, DIPECHO, OAS, OECS Secretariat, PAHO, UNDP,

USAID, DFID, and ACS

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SWOT of District Committees

STRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

WEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES

OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES

THREATSTHREATS

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Strength: Community

Caribbean: 38,045,052 (July 2001 est.) Source: World Fact Book

Saint Lucia: 155,996 (Jan 2001 est.)Source: Government Of Saint Lucia Statistics Dept.

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Corresponding IR: 1

Strength: Community

A resource waiting to the recruited to Disaster Management.

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Strength: Structure

Structures exist…

CDERA

NEMO

DISTRICTS

HOSPITALS/HEALTH CENTRES

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Strength: Emergency Planning

Plans

Response plans including:

Procedures for Oil Spills, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Volcanic Eruptions.

Procedures also exist for responses by District Disaster Committees.

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Strength: Emergency Planning

A District Model Plan (sponsored by GTZ through the OECS/SDU), was revised by the NEMAC in 2002. It is

to be revised by the District Committees in 2003.

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Strength: Training

Training

Mass Causality events…

In 2002 and 2003 in collaboration with the OECS/Sustainable Development Unit and then with

PAHO, Mass Casualty Management Courses have been conducted with seven district committees totaling one

hundred and sixty seven persons.

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Strength: Training

SUMA shall be introduced to the district disaster committees.

The first step is to take stock of what the National Office has acquired so that when the distribution

program commences the computer program shall be used by the National Committee to monitor supplies.

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Strength: Training

Then the Committees shall be empowered to monitor their resources both in crisis times and outside of crisis.

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Strength: Facilities

Through a loan with the World Bank

Warehouses are to be constructed for eighteen District Committees and furnished with equipment for the

District EOC's and response.

Hence the need of SUMA.

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Weakness: Community

Caribbean: 38,045,052 (July 2001 est.) Source: World Fact Book

Saint Lucia: 155,996 (Jan 2001 est.)Source: Government Of Saint Lucia Statistics Dept

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Corresponding IR: 3 & 4

Weakness: Sustainability

Caribbean (Saint Lucian) People have a propensity to react and not act.

Example:

2002 – Tropical Storm Lili

An evacuation order for the Village of Anse la Raye ignored.

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Corresponding IR: 3 & 4

Weakness: Sustainability

The attitude that Disaster Management takes place from June to November is a common one.

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Corresponding IR: 3 & 4

Weakness: Sustainability

Another attitude is that of…

“It won’t happen here.”

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Opportunity: Community

Caribbean: 38,045,052 (July 2001 est.) Source: World Fact Book

Saint Lucia: 155,996 (Jan 2001 est.)Source: Government Of Saint Lucia Statistics Dept

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Opportunity: Community

Saint Lucia/Age cohorts:

14 and under = 49,957 15 – 19 = 16,457

20 – 29 = 29,623 30 – 49 = 38,824

50 – 59 = 8,317 60 and over =12,158

Source: GOVERNMENT STATISTICS DEPT./10 January, 2001

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Corresponding IR: 3 and 4

Opportunity: Community

A young population bursting with energy.

Where will they spend it?

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Corresponding IR: 3 and 4

Opportunity: Community

With a District Committee in place and a plan to be adopted, the community will be able to further

participate in emergency planning and simulation exercises.

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Corresponding IR: 1

Opportunity: Partnerships/Regional

CDERA, PAHO, OAS, OECS, OFDA, EU,

DipECHO, US SOUTHCOM, UNDP, ACS, DFID

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Opportunity: Partnerships/Local

Volunteers: Club 60,

Mothers and Fathers Groups,

District Nurse, Community Development Officer,

Poverty Reduction Fund Officers

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Opportunity: Plans

Draft National Health Plan now in its final revision by the Ministry of Health.

The creation of a Stress Management Response Team with a plan (for emergency workers).

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Opportunity: Plans

The revision of Donations policies and guidelines that will guide the request and receipt of donations (cash,

medical equipment, relief goods, personnel, etc.)

The design of a Policy and Guidelines for the adequate management of dead bodies in Disasters.

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Threat: Community

Caribbean: 38,045,052 (July 2001 est.) Source: World Fact Book

Saint Lucia: 155,996 (Jan 2001 est.)Source: Government Of Saint Lucia Statistics Dept

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Corresponding IR: 2

Threat: Community

The further away an event gets the more we forget.

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Threat: Community

Deficit Risk Communication:

Where the jargon of the discipline imparts nothing.

or that…

"The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place"

- George Bernard Shaw -

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The common theme?

Community.

We have at the local level:

Organization, planning with NEMO

Training MCM and SUMA with PAHO support

EOC with CDERA support

Equipment and facilities WB Loan & US SouthCom cooperation

Equipment from the local private sector and Diplomatic Corps

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The Community is the first to be affected and the one we all strive to protect.

We understand that the community is the first to respond. So we must train and equip them.

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The focus of the CDM Program which includes but is not limited to the Health, Agriculture and Tourism

Sectors must embrace the community by…

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Involving all players for…

It must be accepted that disaster management functions in all areas of life…

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- that indiscriminate garbage disposal aggravates flooding;

- that the lack of proper drainage at the local playing field saturates soils that can slide;

-that an inappropriate location for a hospital, cricket ground or other social structure has the

potential to cause more harm than good.

If this is not accepted THEN…

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… our opportunities

for development

… shall always kneel before disasters.

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Thank You/Muchas Gracias