Transcript EMERGENCY / DISASTER MANAGEMENT A Rapid scan of …

EMERGENCY / DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
A 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 Environment
[email protected]
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
Jamaica : NATURAL DISASTER CALENDAR
.. 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)
Wildfires2(July-Aug)
<…….DROUGHT……. (esp El Nino years ….. can last 1 – 2 years)………DROUGHT…….>
>>>>>>> Earthquakes
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
and
tsunamis,
May
Jun
(always open season) <<<<<<<<<<<
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
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