DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND HAZARD REDUCTION

PROCESSES

Natural Hazards and Disasters.

• A natural hazard is an extreme event that threatens human life and property.

• It becomes a natural disaster when it has a serious effect on people, their property and their livelihood.

The impact of a hazard on a country depends on the:

Severity of the eventPopulation densityKnowledge and preparedness of the

populationAvailability of predicting and forecasting

technology

DISASTERS THAT AFFECT THE CARIBBEAN

• HURRICANES• EARTHQUAKES• VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS• FLOODS• LANDSLIDES• DROUGHTS

WHAT IS DISASTER MANAGEMENT?

Disaster management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.

Disaster Impact

Response

Recovery

RedevelopmentPrevention

Mitigation

Preparedness

The Disaster Management Process

Post-Disaster

Pre-Disaster

NATURAL DISASTER MANAGMENT

There are three categories of Natural Disaster Management:• Preparedness - to ensure the highest level of physical

preparedness, as well as the speed and effectiveness of the response when a disaster actually strikes

• Mitigation - to increase the protection of buildings and infrastructure facilities against disasters

• Post-disaster Response - to rehabilitate social and economic infrastructure and to ensure the earliest reinstatement of economic activity without prejudicing the highest professional standards

REGIONAL NATURAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

• 1989, the project was extended and it became Pan-Caribbean Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Project (PCDPPP) to accommodate the term "prevention".

• It was launched in conjunction with different American, Canadian and European disaster relief organizations.

• PCDPPP has also led to the creation of disaster preparedness offices in several Caribbean countries e.g. the Central Emergency Relief Organization in Barbados, the National Emergency Management Agency in Trinidad and Tobago and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management in Jamaica.

CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

• In I991 the Heads of Government of CARICOM established a regional agency to coordinate disaster management activities thus the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) was formally established. In 2009 CDERA became Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

What does CDEMA do???

Its main objectives are to:Provide a coordinated emergency relief to any affected participating state.Provide reliable information to governmental organizations and NOGs and donors regarding the effects of a disaster.Mobilize and coordinate the supply and delivery of disaster relief to an affected country.Mitigate or eliminate the immediate consequences of natural disasters.Promote and establish sustainable disaster response capabilities among countries.

• The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management is committed to taking positive measures to prevent or reduce the impact of hazards on Jamaica, on its people, natural and resources and economy.

• It achieves this through its trained and professional staff, by the use of appropriate technology and through collaborative efforts with national, regional and international agencies.

OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

How ODPEM prepares Jamaica

• Hazard Mitigation Planning• Public Education and Training• Projects Development and Implementation• National Shelter Programme• Use of GIS (Geographical Information System)

Reducing the impact of hazards includes a mix of engineering and building design, land use planning, and improving information to those providing relief.

THE HAZARD REDUCTION PROCESS

Risk assessment is the study of the costs and benefits of living in a particular environment. It involves consideration of:• The likely size and range of natural

processes involved• The extent of the impacts• Ways in which the impacts can be reduced.

All countries in the Caribbean have adopted the concept of disaster reduction through:• Hazard mitigation• Disaster management• Establishing natural disaster

agencies to cope with natural disasters.