National Systems for National Systems for Disaster ManagementDisaster Management

Judy R. ThomasJudy R. Thomas

Barbados’ National Disaster Coordinator Barbados’ National Disaster Coordinator

Disaster Management SpecialistDisaster Management Specialist

LEADERS 2006LEADERS 2006

International Course on International Course on Development and Disasters Development and Disasters

PAHO in collaboration with the PAHO in collaboration with the University of the West Indies and University of the West Indies and CDERACDERA

Presentation OverviewPresentation OverviewNational Systems for National Systems for Emergency ManagementEmergency Management

Evolution of the CEM & IEMSEvolution of the CEM & IEMS

The Caribbean System for The Caribbean System for

CDMCDM

Trends and Factors of Trends and Factors of

Influence.Influence.

The Way ForwardThe Way Forward

ObjectivesObjectives

Participants will be able toParticipants will be able to::

Define National Disaster Management Define National Disaster Management SystemsSystems

Understand the emergency management Understand the emergency management

process with such a systemprocess with such a system

Compare and contract at least two national Compare and contract at least two national

systemssystems

Understand the trends and factors that Understand the trends and factors that

influence theminfluence them

Explain the importance of networkingExplain the importance of networking

National Emergency National Emergency Management SystemManagement System

A network of people and A network of people and

organisations responsible for organisations responsible for

dealing with emergencies in dealing with emergencies in

a community/countrya community/country

IEMSIEMS and CDMand CDM

Conceptual Framework to Conceptual Framework to

increase emergency increase emergency

management capability by management capability by

networking, coordinating, networking, coordinating,

linkages, interoperability, linkages, interoperability,

partnerships and resource partnerships and resource

acquisitionacquisition

Comparison ofComparison of IEMS and CDM IEMS and CDM

All Hazards ApproachAll Hazards Approach In All Phases of Disaster In All Phases of Disaster

CycleCycle By All Actors and By All Actors and

Stakeholders Stakeholders Towards the Attainment of Towards the Attainment of

Mutual GoalsMutual Goals

Classification of DisastersClassification of Disasters

AttackAttack (conventional/nuclear) (conventional/nuclear)

Internal DisturbancesInternal Disturbances (riots) (riots)

Natural HazardsNatural Hazards (met/seismic) (met/seismic)

Technological HazardsTechnological Hazards( spills)( spills)

Energy ShortagesEnergy Shortages

Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

Noah /Noah /

First Recorded FloodFirst Recorded Flood Warning System (telling the Warning System (telling the

population)population) Preparedness Action (building Preparedness Action (building

and Ark)and Ark) Response Action (going into the Response Action (going into the

ark)ark)

NOAH’s ARKNOAH’s ARK

Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective US National Systems US National Systems

Reference Point – 1960 1970Reference Point – 1960 1970Transition in Emergency ManagementTransition in Emergency Management

Cold War: focus on Nuclear Cold War: focus on Nuclear Attack (Civil Defense) (External)Attack (Civil Defense) (External)

Civil Unrest: Aspects of Civil Unrest: Aspects of Security, Security, Mass Casualty, Mass Casualty, homelessness homelessness (internal)(internal)

Alaskan EarthquakeAlaskan Earthquake

TRENDS OF DIRECTIONTRENDS OF DIRECTION

Expanded Scope to include Expanded Scope to include Disaster AgentsDisaster Agents

Decline in Disaster Assumption Decline in Disaster Assumption for Nuclear Planningfor Nuclear Planning

Shift in focus from security to Shift in focus from security to viability of local communityviability of local community

Increased organisations Increased organisations involved in Planninginvolved in Planning

Trends and Direction (1970)Trends and Direction (1970)

More Clearly defined Roles and More Clearly defined Roles and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Focus on Preparedness and Focus on Preparedness and TrainingTraining

Better IntegrationBetter Integration Provision of Organisation, Provision of Organisation,

Technology, and Management Technology, and Management skills to cope with Disastersskills to cope with Disasters

BEFOFE CEMBEFOFE CEM

Agencies operating in State Agencies operating in State

Systems were fragmented in Systems were fragmented in

management styles and focus management styles and focus

on Individual Roles and on Individual Roles and

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Partners in Emergency Partners in Emergency ManagementManagement

National Government at all Levels: National Government at all Levels:

National/Federal, State, Local.National/Federal, State, Local.

Private SectorPrivate Sector

NGOs and CBOsNGOs and CBOs

Individuals in CommunitiesIndividuals in Communities

Regional and International Regional and International

Partners in National SystemPartners in National System

Policy Direction

Management Structure Partners

Caribbean PerspectivesCaribbean Perspectives

Trends and FactorsTrends and Factors 1979 Watershed Year1979 Watershed Year

Caribbean Health Ministers’ Caribbean Health Ministers’ Mandate. SLUMandate. SLU

Multi-Organizational Project: Multi-Organizational Project: PCDPPP (1980-1990)PCDPPP (1980-1990)

Creation of CDERA (1991Creation of CDERA (1991))

Caribbean PerspectivesCaribbean Perspectives

Trends and FactorsTrends and Factors Development of National Development of National

Disaster OrganisationsDisaster Organisations

Naming of National Disaster Naming of National Disaster

CoordinatorsCoordinators

Establishment of NEOCsEstablishment of NEOCs

Adoption of Policy/LegislationAdoption of Policy/Legislation

Elements of National SystemsElements of National Systems Ministerial DirectionMinisterial Direction Disaster Legislation (Policy)Disaster Legislation (Policy) National Disaster CommitteeNational Disaster Committee

(Public Sector & other players)(Public Sector & other players) Planning CommitteesPlanning Committees Work ProgrammeWork Programme StaffStaff BudgetBudget

Challenges in the SystemChallenges in the System

Collective Vision of CDMCollective Vision of CDM Buy In by PartnersBuy In by Partners Staff Levels and competenciesStaff Levels and competencies Adequate ResourcesAdequate Resources Insufficient BudgetInsufficient Budget Tendency to focus on Tendency to focus on

Preparedness and Preparedness and ResponseResponse Lack of capacity to absorb Lack of capacity to absorb

Technical SupportTechnical Support

Positive DevelopmentsPositive Developments

Disaster Management as a Disaster Management as a Professional DisciplineProfessional Discipline

Integration within Institutions of Integration within Institutions of LearningLearning

Increasing Perplexity of DisasterIncreasing Perplexity of Disaster Willingness to incorporate Willingness to incorporate

Lessons LearntLessons Learnt Assistance from other Assistance from other

disciplinesdisciplines

SummarySummary

National Systems Lead By National Systems Lead By GovernmentsGovernments

Other Partners importance in Other Partners importance in the design of Systemsthe design of Systems

911 & Terrorism CWC & other 911 & Terrorism CWC & other hazards provide awareness and hazards provide awareness and resourcesresources

Greater Emphasis Must be On Greater Emphasis Must be On Risk Reduction.Risk Reduction.

Let Us Talk!Let Us Talk!

Thank YouThank YouFor Your Kind For Your Kind Attention And Attention And ParticipationParticipation