CDERA

1. 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)

2. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Assessment of the Shelter Programme in Saint Kitts and Nevis

3. Managing Disasters with Preparedness 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

4. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Outputs of Assessment • Information on current status • Shelter management issues • Recommendations for development and implementation of programme

5. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Methodology • Survey instrument designed • Visit to St Kitts and Nevis • Application of questionnaire and discussions with personnel involved in programme

6. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings • Shelter Body exists as a creature of NEMA • Shelter Body includes: • - Gov’t Bodies, PWD, Community and Social Development, Lands & Housing • - NGO – e.g Red Cross Salvation Army, Churches, Civic Groups

7. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Responsibility of Organisation • Shelters and their location • Shelter Managers • Long and short term plans • Training • Administrative issues • Security

8. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Sample of Shelters Visited • ST. KITTS • Stone Fort Estate • Industrial Park Day Care Centre • NEVIS • Netball Complex • Community Centre Bath

9. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Types of Facilities used as Shelters • Churches / Church Halls/Basements • Community Centres • Private buildings • Schools

10. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (con’t) Shelter Capacity Accommodation for 15 – 20 persons on average

11. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Amenities in Shelter • Most lacked emergency lighting • Water • Some have kitchen and sleeping facilities • All had toilets

12. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Maintenance and Selection • NEMA • Assessment by shelter inspection team • Approval for use • All had toilets

13. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Maintenance and Selection • Maintenance PWD for public buildings • Private shelters maintained by owner • Uncertainty re private shelter maintenance

14. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Provisioning of Shelters • NEMA 72 hours after activation • Special assistance to elderly with special

15. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Training • Training done by OFDA and CDERA • First Aid done by Red Cross • Training provided for Volunteers of Civic groups, government bodies, private sector

16. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Policy and Administrative Framework • National Disaster Plan • Legislation • No written Policy

17. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • 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

18. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Findings (cont’d) • Lessons Learnt cont’d • 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

19. Managing Disasters with Preparedness Recommendations • Shelter retrofitting programme • MOU development with collaborators • Development and approval of shelter policy and programme • Formalise arrangements re shelter management personnel

20. Managing Disasters with Preparedness 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