CDERA

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CDERA
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency
Managing Disaster with Preparedness
National Consultation on Shelter
Management St. Kitts Nevis March 20 21, 2001
Presented by Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Response Agency (CDERA)
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Assessment of the Shelter Programme in Saint
Kitts and Nevis
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Terms of Reference

• Assessment of Shelter
• Initiatives in St.Kitts and Nevis
• Discussions with national and local entities to
  determine status
• Visit sample of designated shelters
• Review documents e.g National
• Disaster plan, Legislation other docs

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Outputs of Assessment

• Information on current status
• Shelter management issues
• Recommendations for development and
  implementation of programme

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Methodology

• Survey instrument designed
• Visit to St Kitts and Nevis
• Application of questionnaire and discussions with
  personnel involved in programme

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Findings

• Shelter Body exists as a creature of NEMA
• Shelter Body includes
• - Govt Bodies, PWD, Community and Social
  Development, Lands Housing
• - NGO e.g Red Cross Salvation Army,
  Churches, Civic Groups

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Findings (contd)

• Responsibility of Organisation
• Shelters and their location
• Shelter Managers
• Long and short term plans
• Training
• Administrative issues
• Security

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Findings (contd)

• Sample of Shelters Visited
• ST. KITTS
• Stone Fort Estate
• Industrial Park Day Care Centre
• NEVIS
• Netball Complex
• Community Centre Bath

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Findings (contd)

• Types of Facilities used as Shelters
• Churches / Church Halls/Basements
• Community Centres
• Private buildings
• Schools

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Findings (cont)
Shelter Capacity Accommodation for 15
20 persons on average
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Findings (contd)

• Amenities in Shelter
• Most lacked emergency lighting
• Water
• Some have kitchen and sleeping facilities
• All had toilets

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Findings (contd)

• Maintenance and Selection
• NEMA
• Assessment by shelter inspection team
• Approval for use
• All had toilets

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Findings (contd)

• Maintenance and Selection
• Maintenance PWD for public buildings
• Private shelters maintained by owner
• Uncertainty re private shelter maintenance

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Findings (contd)

• Provisioning of Shelters
• NEMA 72 hours after activation
• Special assistance to elderly with special

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Findings (contd)

• Training
• Training done by OFDA and CDERA
• First Aid done by Red Cross
• Training provided for Volunteers of Civic groups,
  government bodies, private sector

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Findings (contd)

• Policy and Administrative Framework
• National Disaster Plan
• Legislation
• No written Policy

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Findings (contd)

• Lessons Learnt
• Buildings were designated shelters in the Alert
  phase
• Trained shelter mangers were unavailable during
  Hurricanes Georges and Lenny
• Shelter occupancy ranged from days to months

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Findings (contd)

• Lessons Learnt contd
• Public awareness and education programme vital to
  the programme
• Community personnel must have knowledge of issues
• Politicians must be sensitized about the
  programme
• Basic supplies must be provided for all shelters

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Recommendations

• Shelter retrofitting programme
• MOU development with collaborators
• Development and approval of shelter policy and
  programme
• Formalise arrangements re shelter management
  personnel

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Recommendations

• 5. Extending of groups involved in Shelter
  selection team
• Regular meetings of Shelter committee
• 7. Development of Shelter manual
• 8. Regular simulation exercises for shelter
  management