EMERGENCY / DISASTER MANAGEMENTA Rapid scan of “History, Trends and Concerns”

Presentation for ‘Leaders’ Seminar Orientation Session Feb 7th, 2003

FJMcDonald, CEO NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency)Ministry of Land and Environmentfmcdonald@nepa.gov.jm

The Caribbean Region

CREDIBLE THREATS:Natural and Man Induced

Geophysical: Earthquakes, Landslides, Volcanic Events, etc

Climatic: Hurricanes, Floods, Drought, Windstorm etc

Biological: Human, Animal and Plant Diseases,

Technological: Fires, Oil Spills and Transport Accidents, Deliberate or Accidental Releases of Radioactive / Toxic Material, and Biological Agents

Other: Terrorism, Civil Disorder, Conflict, War, Refugees / Population Movements

Complex: Any combination of the above

.. Hurricanes (June 1–Nov 30).. Northers / Severe Seas /

very local floods esp NCoast (Mid Dec–March) Flash Floods Flash Floods (ass

w large landslides)

Wildfires1(Feb-April)

<…….DROUGHT……. (esp El Nino years ….. can last 1 – 2 years)………DROUGHT…….>

>>>>>>> Earthquakes and tsunamis, (always open season) <<<<<<<<<<<

Jamaica : NATURAL DISASTER CALENDAR

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wildfires2(July-Aug)

Trends / Emerging Issues

• Security / Terrorism• Climate Instability possibly related to

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE• Wildfires and Megafires• “Environmental” Emergencies• Complex Emergencies• Humanitarian / Refugee Events • Linkages to Development Targets

– Millenium Goals / Poverty – Global / Regional / National / Subnational /

Sectoral Capacity Building

DISASTER ADAPTATIONS• TAINO / CARIB Pre European:

– Crops and Food Supply– Structures / Settlement Locations– Culture and Religon (eg God Furacan – Hurricane)– Local Coping / Response (Prediction / Relocation)

• COLONIAL Period – Transfers of ‘Home Country’ modes– Focus on Relief and Response– Diversification of Foods / Crops

• Bananas vs Sugar• Deliberate introductions eg Breadfruit

– Structural Adaptation

• CONSTRAINED BY STATE OF KNOWLEDGE

CARIBBEAN DISASTER TRIVIA

• Breadfruit, Mutiny of the Bounty, Bligh and Hurricanes

• Napoleon and Josephine

• Alexander Hamilton

• British on St Kitts

• Mt Pelee and Global Volcanic Research

Public Administration of Disasters• Colonial Governors “Rule by Decree” using

‘Emergency’ Powers / Riot Act evolved in 1950’s – 1970’s to “Central Emergency Relief Ctee” Model based on modification of Governors ‘council’

• Permanent Secretariat sometimes added – Eg “CERO” Barbados / NERO Trinidad

• Typically Located in -:– Cabinet Office / Electoral Office– Emerging Ministry seen to be related

• Internal Affairs / Social Security / Housing

• Generally ‘Reactive’ and Hurricane focused• Not comprehensive or integrated• Growing concerns in late 70’s at regions lack of

capacity and underutilisation of ‘modern’ approaches based on ‘Science’

1970’s = 1980’s• Quakes (Antigua, Nicaragua, Guatemala) stimulated renewed

Caribbean interest + systematic attn from PAHO/UN system & bilateral donor agencies in state of readiness.

• 1979 Volcanic Eruption St Vincent• 1979 May – June St Lucia ‘Disaster Prep’ Conference• 1979 June Floods in Jamaica • 1979 Sept Hurricanes David / Fredrick

• STIMULATED NATIONAL SHIFT TO PROACTIVE / ANTICIPATORY MECHANISMS

• ESTAB OF NEW INITIATIVES [EG ODP (JAMAICA) / PCDPPP (REGION) TO BUILD CAPACITY

• WIDE INTEREST IN IMPROVING REGIONS PREPAREDNESS, PREVENTION, MITOGATION MEASURES WITHIN A MODERN DISASTER MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

• Developed countries Disaster Management systems heavily Civil Defense focussed

• ODA measures also somewhat influenced also Relief Industry

RECENT DISASTER MNG IN CARIBBEAN

• PCDPPP [Executed by CARICOM/ PAHO/ UNDRO/ LRCS with support of USAID / CIDA / EU ET AL] built National, Sectoral and Regional Capacity

• Suceeded by CDERA and ongoing programmes in Health (PAHO) and other Sectors (eg CDMP)

• Linkages to AGENDA 21, Barbados SIDS Issues, Sustainable Development, Poverty Reduction, Environmental and Physical Planning Agendas,

• Linkages to CLIMATE CHANGE issues• Emergence of Financial / Insurance Sectors

– CDB Policy• NEW LINKS TO MILLENIUM GOALS, Barbados POA

and follow up