San Juan, Puerto Rico

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Lessons Learned, Hurricane Mitch
San Juan, Puerto Rico May 23-28, 2000
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Hurricane Mitch

• Most powerful hurricane to hit Central America in
  two centuries
• Overwhelmed disaster management structures, at
  national, regional and international due to
  geographic impact
• Unprecedented levels of destruction, 3.5 Billion
  
• Thousands of shattered lives two million
  displaced
• Four countries seriously affected by the
  phenomenon extreme poverty, environmental
  degradation and poor disaster response resources

3
Hurricane Mitch

• The Setting
• Hurricane developed as tropical storm then CAT V,
  stalled for two days prior to landfall--4.5 feet
  of rain
• Impacted impoverished and debt-ridden countries
• Some recently emerged from prolonged conflict
• Death toll, homes destroyed, agriculture, health
  infrastructure, schools, highways, bridges, water
  and sewage was all on an unprecedented scale
• Human interventions lie at the root of much of
  the damage farmers and urban population without
  access to adequate land or credit and technical
  assistance, homes in high-risk areas,
  deforestation, inappropriate farming practices

4
Hurricane Mitch

• Initial Response
• Not well prepared disaster management structures
  or plans to address the effects of a major
  disaster, despite the recurrence of major
  disaster history in the region
• Sporadic information sharing amongst the affected
  countries, communities and internal
  communications breaks
• As the event unfolded, respective governments
  were establishing national emergency structures
• Health sector was better prepared--PAHO

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Hurricane Mitch

• Relief Effort
• Local authorities, churches, NGOs, and civil
  defense mobilized
• National, regional and international assistance
  was generous and massive, but cumbersome and
  sometimes not coordinated
• Aid received monitored closely--receiving,
  storage, registry and distribution by affected
  nation w/SUMA
• Over 40 countries provided relief
  support--equipment, personnel, goods or debt
  forgiveness

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OFDA Funded DoD Air Assets

• La Ceiba--FOB
• 4 x UH-60s

• JTF Bravo(Soto Cano)
• 5 x UH- 60s
• 2 x MH-60s
• 4 x CH -47s
• 2 x C-27s
• 2 x C-130

San Pedro Sula
La Ceiiba
GUATEMALA
HONDURAS

• Guatemala City
• 6 x UH-60s

EL SALVADOR
NICARAGUA

• JTF-Aguila (Comalapa)
• 6 x MH/UH-60s
• 10 x CH-47s (or equivalent)

• Managua
• 5 x UH-60s
• 1 x CH-47

COSTA RICA
PANAMA
Snap Shot of DART OPS During Hurricane Mitch
10 Nov 98
DoD provided approximately 60 of airlift
required in the region other forces provided the
remaining 40.
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Summary of U.S. AssistanceDuring Hurricane Mitch

• USAID/OFDA 30 million
• USAID/Food for Peace (FFP) 52 million
• Department of Defense (DOD) 150 million
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 63
  million
• Development/Micro-credit assistance 5 million

• Rolls of Plastic Sheeting 1,434
• Water Bladders 39
• Water Jugs 53,850
• Blankets 22,150
• Body Bags 1,004
• Food 60,000 Metric Tons

Total USG 300 Million
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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Emergency Operations systems did not function
• -Governments were developing as situation
  unfolded-political change, changed DM
  organization
• -Existing organizations focused efforts on
  preparedness and response, need to include
  prevention and mitigation
• Lack of coordination/exercising of national
  emergency plans

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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Civilian groups marginalized by military who have
  the resources
• Coordination efforts centralized in capitol
  cities
• Disaster management trained personnel were not
  available or unable to execute what training
  known

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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Better communications required with outlying
  areas for assessment and reporting
• Countries overwhelmed with international
  assistance-not coordinated
• Early warning is critical at the local, national,
  and international level
• Communications and plans need to be known by
  community leaders--communications and plans have
  to be horizontal versus vertical

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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Disaster Preparedness and Planning needs to
  involve all communities
• comprehensive training programs at all levels
• community awareness
• information management communication media
• should be aware of their influence PIO keeping
  media informed to avoid confusion, and erroneous
  reports
• create a culture of disaster preparedness and
  mitigation create awareness for all sectors

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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Governments and local authorities must ensure
  that the international donor communitys response
  is based on reliable and verified needs
  assessment
• Information sharing through relief networks
• Humanitarian Operations Center needs to be
  established to coordinate efforts with NGOs, and
  other international organizations
• Coordination of efforts between National, local,
  regional and international organizations

13
Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Social Vulnerability, assignment of funds for
  sustainable living conditions and
  health/education

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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Reforestation of areas and legislation on sites
  for construction

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Hurricane Mitchlessons learned

• Strengthen Central American integration through
  existing institutions such as CEPREDENAC and
  SICA-looking at regional management of
  water and other natural resources, address
  shared problems

16
Venezuelas Floodslessons learned

• Lessons learned from Hurricane Mitch in Central
  America indicate that many of the NEMOs were
  unable to assist as trained during the last 10-15
  yrs.
• The same lessons were learned during the December
  1999 floods in Venezuela
• In most of these events, the military was
  directed to assume duties of the operating NEMOs
• Innovative institutional systems are needed to
  enhance NEMO self sufficiency and military
  support to civil authorities during disasters

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Preparedness and Planning of Foreign Regions in
the Americas

• All countries affected by Mitch have passed
  legislation creating civil sector agencies for
  natural disaster and emergency response--CEPREDENA
  C
• Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
  pro-active with DART, Preparedness/Planning
  training, initial assistance to affected country
• USSOUTHCOM Regional Disaster Response Seminars
  and Training Exercises
• CDERA, CEPREDENAC and PAHO

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Preparedness and Planning of Foreign Regions in
the Americas

• Central American Disaster Mitigation
  Initiative-OFDA/USAID
• Academic Curriculum design/development in DM/HA
• Scientific research on topics related to DM/HA
• Collaboration of organizations in region
• Health sector Psycho-social aspects
• Private sector involvement

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Gracias!