Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation in St. Kitts and Nevis

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Post-GeorgesDisaster Mitigationin 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//w
ww.oas.org/pgdm
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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

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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

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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

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Vulnerability as Design/ Investment Decision
Photo Tony Gibbs, CEP
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Disasters Dont PayImpact 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

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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

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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.

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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

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PGDM Project Goal

• To reduce the vulnerabilityof population and
  economic activitiesto natural hazardsthrough
  enhanced capacityfor hazard mitigation
• includes tropical storms and related flooding
  and seismic and volcanic hazards

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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.

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Project Objectives (contd)
Hazard Mitigation CommitteeHazard Mitigation
Policy/Plan
ImprovedBuilding Practices
Emergency Shelter Strengthening
Public Information and Education
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Project Context and Links
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Existing
policies, programs
CDERA Shelter managementPublic awareness
Hotel/Tourism Sector Hurricane PreparednessManual
International Donors CIDA ENCAPD Others
US National Trust for Historic Preservation Hazard
mitigation for cultural resources
USAID/OAS Post-GeorgesDisaster Mitigation Project
Other Resources _____________
OAS/WB/GEF CPACC Economic instruments
World Bank OECS Disaster Mgmt Loans
St. Kitts/Nevis Government Agencies Training in
mitigation planning, post-disaster mitigation,
building inspection, hurricane preparedness
CIMHStorm HazardMapping
Fdn for National Development Housing retrofit
program, safer housing roundtable
USAID/OAS Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project
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Project Management
National DisasterMitigation Committee
Policy making, project guidance
Technical assistance, project supervision,
international organization liaison
Local coordination
OAS Projectmanagement (DC)
USAID Jamaica
Reporting, planning
Management supervision
Local representation,government
liaison, logistical support
OAS St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts/Nevis
USAID
OAS
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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

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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

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http//www.oas.org/pgdm

• Public information
• Exchange of project information between
  participants

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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