Presented by :Dr. Stephen Ramroop, MBBS FRCSEd FRCSGlasg. UK MBA HCM UOP USA

Chief Executive Officer Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM)

Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability Capacity

The Probability of harmful consequences resulting from

the interactions between hazards and vulnerable

conditions.

Any event that results in negative impacts such as loss of life and damage to

property.

Conditions determined by physical, social, economic and environmental

factors which increase the susceptibility of a community to the

impact of hazards

Studies have shown that throughincreasing capacity at both thenational and local level , vulnerabilitywill be reduced, and by extensionany reduction in vulnerability willdirectly result in risk reduction.

The combination of all thestrengths, attributes andresources available withina community, society ororganization that can beused to achieve agreedgoals.

Structural Vulnerability can be simplified as the ability of any element to absorbor withstand the impacts of a hazard, and is influenced by a variety of factors :

• Limited access to funds for design, construction , retrofitting etc .Economic

• Those who do have the resources to build better do not see it as a priority while others may not have the know how to do so. Socio-Cultural

• Type of material used for construction, building design, mitigativefeatures implemented etc. Physical

• The impact of the surrounding environment and exacerbating factors such as land use , hazard exposure etc .Environmental

Much of the Trinidad’s development and infrastructure , including the two majorcities : the capital Port- of – Spain ; and San –Fernando , are concentrated alongthe country’s western coastline.

Additionally , there is also a rapidly growing industrial sector , which has led to thedevelopment of several industrial park and estates , distributed through out the island .Unfortunately , many of these industrial sites are located in close proximities to denselypopulated areas , highlighting the need to ensure that proper risk management is initiated .

The C.O.R.E ( Communities Organised and Ready for Emergencies) programmeis an initiative started by the ODPM as a way to impart important risk reductioninformation and promote awareness while at the same time creating aplatform for citizens to voice their concerns regarding disaster management .

The C.O.R.E programme is conducted in annual phases each with a differenttheme :

The primary objective of Phase 2 was to reduce structural vulnerability incommunities through the BaSiC ( Better and Safer in Construction ) Campaign.An effort was made to not only reinforce the importance of safer building but tohighlight cost effective mechanisms for improving building structural integritysuch as the use of Hurricane Straps

Phase 1 :2011Flood Smart

Phase 2 : 2012Better and Safer in

Construction

Phase 3:2013 Preparedness Planning

National Disaster Risk Reduction Committee

Improving Risk Information and Early Warning

Building a Culture of Safety and

Resilience

Reducing the Underlying Risk

Factors

Strengthening Disaster

Preparedness for Response

Main Committee

Who When

Why

Sub-Committees

Who When

Decision Makers: Agency Heads , Division Managers etc Biannually

To make decisions on DRM based on recommendations made by Sub-committeework groups, with the intention of achieving high level buy-in and implementation.

Public & Private Sector :Technical and field staff , researchers, planners , academics, first responders , aid workers etc

Monthly

Why To establish a platform for information sharing across agencies and create a pool ofexpertise which can be utilized to identify gaps and collaboratively formulate multi-sectoral solutions for DRM .

Purpose:Oversee the formulation of a National Building Code for Trinidad and

Tobago

Function:Technical working groups established for the following specific activities

Review of the 2009 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC 2009)and associated referenced Codes/Standards to determine thoserequirements that are applicable nationally;

Preparation of a set of “national deviations” to make applicable thoserequirements in the IBC 2009 and referenced Codes/ that are not directlyapplicable nationally;

Revision of TTS 599, Guide to the design and construction of smallbuildings to transform the document to a Small Building Code; and

Development of draft legislative and regulatory framework required tosupport the enforcement of the requirements of the National BuildingCode and Small Building Code.

Development of draft legislative and regulatory framework to support the Building Code Committee.

Development of Critical Facilities Protection Policy Framework (2010). Currently being revised.

National Hazard Mitigation Policy (2011) and Plan ( in development)

Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy Framework (2010). Currently being revised.

New Disaster Bill ( in development ) to replace Disaster Measures Act of 1978.

This project is being conducted in collaboration with the InternationalDevelopment Bank (IDB) , and involves 2 major components : a Country DisasterRisk Profile , and Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building.

The outcome of the County Risk Evaluation will pinpoint high risk areas inTrinidad and Tobago as well as key assets ( services , infrastructure , criticalfacilities ) which will be exposed to their impact .

The ODPM plans to use the findings of this project as a “road map” for theimplementation of Risk Management Initiatives , as it is intended to providebaseline data , which is critical for guiding efforts to ensure the Structural Integrityof its key Infrastructure.

Improving the Delivery of

Comprehensive Disaster

Management

Country Disaster Risk Profile

Generation of Risk Maps for Major Hazards such as Earthquakes , Tropical Cyclones etc

Proxy of Exposed Assets Report

Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building

Establishment of CERT Teams in highly vulnerable communities

National Institutional Capacity Assessment

Critical Facilities can be described as “the primaryphysical structures, technical facilities and systems whichare socially, economically or operationally essential tothe functioning of a society or community, both in routinecircumstances and in the extreme circumstances of anemergency.” (UNISDR , 2009)

These elements are deemed “critical” because theysupport essential services, which must be maintained inemergency situations to support response and recovery.

Understanding the need to ensure the resilience of thenation’s Critical Facilities the ODPM has launched severalinitiatives to promoted the protection of Critical Facilities.

Capacity Development Programme defined for sector-based gender-sensitive DRM institutional strengthening and mainstreaming; and delivery

initiated in Selected Agencies including consideration of Critical Infrastructure (2013)

Development of Critical Facilities Protection Policy Framework

(2010)

Planned for 2014Risk Assessments to be conducted

for Top 10 Critical Facilities per sector and Risk Management

procedures initiated .

Assessment, ranking and mapping of Critical Facilities in Trinidad and Tobago, with recommendations for

their protection (2013)

Trinidad and Tobago Engineering Community

Research , Contribution and

Validation of international best practice

methodologies for DRR, while making them applicable to Trinidad and

Tobago

Advise at a Technical and Strategic Level

National Disaster Risk

Reduction Committee (NDRRC)

Cabinet Appointed

Building Codes

Committee(CANBCC)

Research , Develop , Recommend and Promote

strategies for the protection and improved resilience of

buildings

Communities Organized and Ready

for Emergencies Programme

(CORE)

Critical Facilities

Protection Programme

Provide, critical input and

support for relevant policies

, plans and legislation , such

as the Hazard Mitigation Policy

and Plan

Contact InformationOffice of Disaster Preparedness and Management. 4A Orange Grove Road , Trincity , Tacarigua.

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago .

Telephone: 640-1285/8905

Customer Call Centre: 511

Fax: 640-8988

Email: publicinfo.odpm@gmail.com

Website: www.odpm.gov.tt

Twitter: ODPM_TT

Facebook: ODPMTT