Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation in St. Kitts and Nevis Funded by a special appropriation by the U.S. Congress to countries

Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation

Post-GeorgesPost-GeorgesDisaster MitigationDisaster Mitigation

in St. Kitts and Nevisin St. Kitts and Nevis

Funded by a special appropriation bythe U.S. Congress to countries affected by

Hurricanes Georges and Mitch, through USAID/Jamaica

http://www.oas.org/pgdm



Roundtable Objectives

• OAS hazard mitigation philosophy

• Introduce Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation project

• Design local project management arrangements

• Draft a project agreement between the OAS and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis

• Outline draft workplan for start-up period



Hazard Mitigation Philosophy

• Natural hazards are an integral part of development

• Poorly planned or executed development contributes to physical vulnerability and disaster loss

• Conversely, effective disaster loss reduction is best achieved as part of well-designed and executed development plans and investment projects



Development as Contributing Factor to Hazard Risk

• Site Vulnerability– Location in hazardous area without adequate

protection

• Structural Vulnerability– Inadequate design, standards, maintenance

• Loss of Natural Protection– Deforestation, loss of reefs and dunes



Vulnerability as Design/ Investment Decision

Photo: T

ony Gibbs,

CE

P



Disasters Don’t Pay:Impact versus relief

Dominica: Luis and Marilyn (1995)

• Estimated damages in 1995: 35% of GDP

• Grant and loan financing pledges (including insurance payments): 38% of damages

• Insurance payments: 13 % of damages

[Balances as of August 1996]



Mitigation Policy Tools and Stakeholders

• Policy Tools– Risk Avoidance: land use regulation, financial

incentives, risk information disclosure– Risk Spreading and Transfer: insurance,

diversification, redundancy– Risk Reduction: retrofitting, building codes,

protective works

• Stakeholders: Homeowners, Builders, Government, Business, Insurance, Lenders



Hazard Mitigation Lessons

• Reverse vulnerability accumulation trends with policies and programs that support effective land use planning and control.

• Give natural hazard assessment the same importance as environmental impact assessment for major investment projects.

• Leverage development financing (public and private sector) to increase resilience to disasters.



Hazard Mitigation Challenges

• Making Disasters a Development Issue– Recognition that investment decisions

determine level of vulnerability– Understanding costs/benefits of mitigation

• Marketing Mitigation– Overcome misconceptions– Improve the understanding of risk posed by

prevalent hazards– Develop effective alternatives to regulation



PGDM Project Goal

To reduce the vulnerabilityof population and economic activities

to natural hazards*

through enhanced capacityfor hazard mitigation

* includes tropical storms and related flooding and seismic and volcanic hazards



Project Objectives

• Develop and begin implementation of national hazard mitigation policy/plan.

• Strengthen national building code use / enforcement; improve building practices.

• Enhance national emergency shelter policies and programs.

• Increase public understanding of the need and options for hazard mitigation.



Project Objectives (cont’d)

Hazard Mitigation Committee

Hazard Mitigation Policy/Plan

ImprovedBuilding Practices

EmergencyShelter Strengthening

Public Information and Education



Project Context and Links

International DonorsCIDA: ENCAPD

Others

CIMHStorm Hazard

Mapping

Fdn for National DevelopmentHousing retrofit program,safer housing roundtable

US National Trust forHistoric Preservation

Hazard mitigationfor cultural resources

Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Existing policies, programs

CDERA Shelter management

Public awareness

USAID/OAS Post-GeorgesDisaster Mitigation Project

USAID/OAS Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project

Other Resources:_____________

St. Kitts/Nevis Government AgenciesTraining in mitigation planning, post-disaster

mitigation, building inspection, hurricanepreparedness

OAS/WB/GEF CPACC Economic instruments

Hotel/Tourism SectorHurricane Preparedness

Manual

World Bank:OECS Disaster

Mgmt Loans



Project Management

National DisasterMitigation Committee

OAS Projectmanagement (DC)

USAIDJamaica

Reporting,planning

OAS St. Kittsand Nevis

Local representation,government liaison,

logistical support

Technical assistance,

project supervision, international organization

liaison

Localcoordination

Policy making,project guidance

Managementsupervision

USAID OAS St. Kitts/Nevis



OAS Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain project work plan

• Technical guidance and assistance towards achieving the primary project objectives

• Monitor progress and participate in regular USAID planning / supervision meetings

• Project reporting: quarterly progress and financial reports

• Comply with all USAID grant requirements



Local Coordination Responsibilities

• Serve as local focal point and coordinate project implementation

• Assist project management with identifying appropriate local capacity for contracting

• Arrange logistical support for project workshops/meetings, prepare minutes/reports

• Identify local issues affecting project

• Disseminate project information



http://www.oas.org/pgdm• Public information

• Exchange of project information between participants



Definitions

• HAZARD: probability of occurrence, within a given time period and area, of a potentially damaging phenomenon.*

• RISK: expected damage or loss from a given hazard. Is a function of hazard characteristics (probability, intensity, extent) and vulnerability. *

• VULNERABILITY: degree of loss to a given element at risk, resulting from the occurrence of a phenomenon of a given magnitude. *

• HAZARD MITIGATION: An activity undertaken to eliminate or reduce the degree of long term RISK to human life and property from a HAZARD.

* UNDRO [now OCHA]

Documents

Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation in St. Kitts and Nevis Funded by a special appropriation by the U.S. Congress to countries