1. Strengthening Risk Management And Social Reconstruction to Reduce The Vulnerability Of Victims Of Natural Disasters The Experience of Saint Lucia

2. Presentation Format Introduction Introduction Current Structure for Disaster Management in Saint Lucia Current Structure for Disaster Management in Saint Lucia Current Systems and Strategies for social risk management and social reconstruction Current Systems and Strategies for social risk management and social reconstruction Challenges Challenges Conclusion & Recommendations Conclusion & Recommendations

3. Saint Lucia – An Overview

4. Location Saint Lucia is located approximately 21 miles south of Martinique, 24 miles north of St. Vincent and about 100 miles north west of Barbados. More precisely, it lies between 60° 53' and 61° 05' West longitude and 13°43' and 14°05' North latitude. Saint Lucia is located approximately 21 miles south of Martinique, 24 miles north of St. Vincent and about 100 miles north west of Barbados. More precisely, it lies between 60° 53' and 61° 05' West longitude and 13°43' and 14°05' North latitude. It falls into the Windward Islands group, being the second largest. It falls into the Windward Islands group, being the second largest.

5. Location Saint Lucia, West Indies

6. St. Lucia - Basic Facts Size: 616 sq. km Size: 616 sq. km General Population: Approximately 164,842 (Pop. Estimate 2005/06) Poor population (47474 = 28.8%) General Population: Approximately 164,842 (Pop. Estimate 2005/06) Poor population (47474 = 28.8%) Indigent Population (2637 =1.6%) Vulnerable Population (66,431 = 40.3%) Main Income Earner:Tourism Main Income Earner:Tourism Saint Lucia is vulnerable to many natural and technological hazards

7. Chairman Prime Minister COP, CFO, CMO Deputy Chairman Cabinet Secretary Permanent Secretaries Director NEMO Deputy Director NEMO Ten (10) National Committees Secretary NEMO Eighteen (18) District Disaster Mgmt. Committees Director of Met. Comptroller Customs & Excise Current Structure for Disaster Management in Saint Lucia Logistics Operations

8. Saint Lucias Risk Management Capacity Policies, Plans & SOPs. Policies, Plans & SOPs. Continuous Training for all Sectors (public & private) and all Communities. Continuous Training for all Sectors (public & private) and all Communities. Disaster Response Fund (GOSL) & Emergency Assistance Fund (CDEMA). Disaster Response Fund (GOSL) & Emergency Assistance Fund (CDEMA). Environmental Impact Assessments & Hazard Impact Assessments. Environmental Impact Assessments & Hazard Impact Assessments. The delimitation of Specially Vulnerable Areas. The delimitation of Specially Vulnerable Areas. Disaster Hazard Inspections [Schools] Disaster Hazard Inspections [Schools]

9. Risk Management Strategies Adoption of CDEMAs Enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework which focuses on the achievement of four main pillars to include: Adoption of CDEMAs Enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework which focuses on the achievement of four main pillars to include: The mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Management at national levels and its incorporation into key sectors of national economies (including tourism, health, agriculture and nutrition) Enhanced community resilience in CDERA states/ territories to mitigate and respond to the adverse effects of climate change and disasters The latter certainly speaks to the empowerment of all populations towards the development of a culture of prevention and resilience

10. Risk Management Strategies Implementation of physical/structural measures for risk reduction in vulnerable areas. These measures include flood mitigation works, construction of sea defense structures, de-silting of rivers, terracing retrofitting of public schools/buildings and enforcement of building codes. Implementation of physical/structural measures for risk reduction in vulnerable areas. These measures include flood mitigation works, construction of sea defense structures, de-silting of rivers, terracing retrofitting of public schools/buildings and enforcement of building codes. Establishment of early warning systems at the community level (flood) Establishment of early warning systems at the community level (flood) Conduct of Risk and Vulnerability assessments to inform decision making Conduct of Risk and Vulnerability assessments to inform decision making

11. Risk Management Strategies Implementation of non-structural mitigation measures (public education, land-use zoning, community profiling) Implementation of non-structural mitigation measures (public education, land-use zoning, community profiling) Strengthening of community and social networks (District Disaster Management Committees) Strengthening of community and social networks (District Disaster Management Committees) Development of community disaster plans and community evacuation plans Development of community disaster plans and community evacuation plans

12. Risk Management Strategies Special Arrangements: Special Arrangements: Access to the use of all available resources within the state (public and private) by the National Disaster Office/Government of Saint Lucia for disaster response purposes upon declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor General. Access to the use of all available resources within the state (public and private) by the National Disaster Office/Government of Saint Lucia for disaster response purposes upon declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor General. The immediate conversion of the resources of the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund to an Emergency Fund to facilitate recovery efforts. The immediate conversion of the resources of the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund to an Emergency Fund to facilitate recovery efforts. Both arrangements are enshrined in legislation

13. Challenges Difficulty of effective agency coordination towards the implementation of general risk reduction measures or social risk reduction measures. Difficulty of effective agency coordination towards the implementation of general risk reduction measures or social risk reduction measures. Many identified risk reduction measures are general and not targeted towards vulnerable populations who face considerable challenges to recovery and reconstruction during post disaster periods. Many identified risk reduction measures are general and not targeted towards vulnerable populations who face considerable challenges to recovery and reconstruction during post disaster periods. Inadequate resources to ensure sustainability and effectiveness of measures implemented Inadequate resources to ensure sustainability and effectiveness of measures implemented

14. Conclusion The poor are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of hazards since they are typically more exposed to risk and have access to fewer risk management instruments that can permit them to deal with their risks The poor are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of hazards since they are typically more exposed to risk and have access to fewer risk management instruments that can permit them to deal with their risks The poor as therefore usually severely affected by the effects of disastrous events The poor as therefore usually severely affected by the effects of disastrous events

15. Recommendation Critical consideration must be given to the design of a Social Risk Management Framework for Latin America and the Caribbean region which would allow for the design of instruments that will facilitate the minimization of the impact of exposure to risk and change their behaviours in ways that will help them to exit poverty and lower their vulnerability (Holzmann, 2000 & 2001) Critical consideration must be given to the design of a Social Risk Management Framework for Latin America and the Caribbean region which would allow for the design of instruments that will facilitate the minimization of the impact of exposure to risk and change their behaviours in ways that will help them to exit poverty and lower their vulnerability (Holzmann, 2000 & 2001)

16. Recommendation Use of a coordinated approach that fosters collaboration among organizations at the international level for design of Social Risk Management Framework. Use of a coordinated approach that fosters collaboration among organizations at the international level for design of Social Risk Management Framework.

17. Thank You!