The Government of the Turks and Caicos is set to begin the development of national emergency plans in an effort to enhance the country’s capabilities toward preparedness and response to natural and man-made threats.
As part of the process, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) has partnered with Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to address the existing gaps in disaster risk management planning by engaging a team of consultants to guide the development of draft emergency plans for designated priority areas. The project is being funded under CDEMA’s Comprehensive Disaster Management / Harmonised Implementation Programme (CDM/HIP) Country Directed Fund.
The development of these emergency plans is in keeping with the national focus on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) in conjunction with the Turks and Caicos Islands Country Work Programme. The initiative is one of several to fine-tune TCI’s national disaster plans as well as to formulate a strategy for transitioning to the development of sectoral disaster risk management plans and related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will hone preparedness and response interventions.
The DDME has identified the need for standardised procedures and guidelines for managing and coordinating response efforts. While TCIG has a comprehensive commitment to enhancing national capacity for disaster risk reduction, the areas listed below have been prioritised in this initial phase are:
1. National Disaster Risk Management Plan (to be reviewed and updated)
2. National Damage Assessment Plan
3. Maritime / Cruise Ship Accident Plan
4. Oil Spill Contingency Plan (to be reviewed and updated)
5. Port Contingency Plan
6. External Affairs Plan
The consultancies will also assist in the development of :
1. Procedures for cooperation with stakeholders both government –based and as well as the private sector and in some instances with international organisations and governments of other countries during a threatened hazard alert or in the event or aftermath of a disaster and or emergency.
2. Procedures clarifying the roles and responsibilities required to execute the emergency function prior to, during and after a hazard specific national crisis, emergency or disaster will form the core of the plan.
The consultants are Arturo Lopez Portillo Contreras, specialist in National Disaster and Damage Assessment Plans and Dr. Balfour Spence whose specialty includes among other things the development of National Oil Spill and Port Contingency Plan. Others include Mr. Jamell Robinson, the team leader; Ms. Heather Stager, specialist in community-based vulnerability assessments and Mr. Paul Saunders a specialist in Maritime / Cruise Ship Accident Plans.
Key stakeholders in TCI’s Disaster Management Organisation will also contribute to the development of more robust plans that aim to enhance capacities to manage impacts from the any of several hazards that threaten the Turks and Caicos Islands.
