2. Natural Hazards and Disasters.
• A natural hazard is an
extreme event that
threatens human life
and property.
• It becomes a natural
disaster when it has a
serious effect on
people, their property
and their livelihood.

3. The impact of a hazard on a country depends on
the:
Severity of the event
Population density
Knowledge and preparedness of the population
Availability of predicting and forecasting
technology

4. DISASTERS THAT AFFECT THE
CARIBBEAN

5. WHAT IS DISASTER
MANAGEMENT?
Disaster management can be defined as the
organization and management of resources
and responsibilities for dealing with all
humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in
particular preparedness, response and
recovery in order to lessen the impact of
disasters.

6. The Disaster Management
Process
Disaster
Impact
Preparednes Response
s
Post-Disaster
Mitigation Recovery
Pre-Disaster
Prevention Redevelopment

8. NATURAL DISASTER
MANAGMENT
There are three categories of Natural Disaster Management:
• Preparedness - to ensure the highest level of physical
preparedness, as well as the speed and effectiveness of
the response when a disaster actually strikes
• Mitigation - to increase the protection of buildings and
infrastructure facilities against disasters
• Post-disaster Response - to rehabilitate social and
economic infrastructure and to ensure the earliest
reinstatement of economic activity without prejudicing the
highest professional standards

9. REGIONAL NATURAL DISASTER
MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE
• 1989, the project was • PCDPPP has also led to
extended and it became the creation of disaster
Pan-Caribbean Disaster preparedness offices in
Preparedness and several Caribbean
Prevention Project countries e.g. the Central
(PCDPPP) to Emergency Relief
accommodate the term Organization in
"prevention". Barbados, the National
• It was launched in Emergency
conjunction with different Management Agency in
American, Canadian and Trinidad and Tobago
European disaster relief and the Office of
organizations. Disaster Preparedness
and Emergency
Management in
Jamaica.

10. CARIBBEAN DISASTER
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY
• In I991 the Heads of Government of CARICOM
established a regional agency to coordinate
disaster management activities thus the
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response
Agency (CDERA) was formally established. In
2009 CDERA became Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

11. Its main objectives are to:
Provide a coordinated emergency relief to
any affected participating state.
Provide reliable information to
governmental organizations and NOGs
and donors regarding the effects of a
disaster.
Mobilize and coordinate the supply and
delivery of disaster relief to an affected
country.
Mitigate or eliminate the immediate
consequences of natural disasters.
Promote and establish sustainable disaster
response capabilities among countries.

12. OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
• The Office of Disaster Preparedness and
Emergency Management is committed to
taking positive measures to prevent or reduce
the impact of hazards on Jamaica, on its
people, natural and resources and economy.
• It achieves this through its trained and
professional staff, by the use of appropriate
technology and through collaborative efforts
with national, regional and international
agencies.

13. • Hazard Mitigation Planning
• Public Education and Training
• Projects Development and Implementation
• National Shelter Programme
• Use of GIS (Geographical Information System)

14. THE HAZARD REDUCTION
PROCESS
Reducing the impact of hazards includes a mix of
engineering and building design, land use planning,
and improving information to those providing relief.
Risk assessment is the study of the costs and
benefits of living in a particular environment. It
involves consideration of:
• The likely size and range of natural processes
involved
• The extent of the impacts
• Ways in which the impacts can be reduced.

16. All countries in the Caribbean have adopted
the concept of disaster reduction through:
• Hazard mitigation
• Disaster management
• Establishing natural disaster agencies to
cope with natural disasters.