Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation in St. Kitts and Nevis

1. 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://www.oas.org/pgdm

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Vulnerability as Design/ Investment Decision Photo: Tony Gibbs, CEP

6. Disasters Don’t Pay:Impact 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]

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. PGDM Project Goal To reduce the vulnerabilityof population and economic activitiesto natural hazards*through enhanced capacityfor hazard mitigation * includes tropical storms and related flooding and seismic and volcanic hazards

11. 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.

12. Project Objectives (cont’d) Hazard Mitigation CommitteeHazard Mitigation Policy/Plan ImprovedBuilding Practices Emergency Shelter Strengthening Public Information and Education

13. 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

14. Project Management National DisasterMitigation Committee Policy making, project guidance Technical assistance, project supervision, international organization liaison Local coordination USAID Jamaica OAS Projectmanagement (DC) Reporting, planning Management supervision Local representation,government liaison, logistical support OAS St. Kitts and Nevis St. Kitts/Nevis USAID OAS

15. 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

16. 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

17. http://www.oas.org/pgdm • Public information • Exchange of project information between participants

18. 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]