With a view to analyze and evaluate the outcome of the Survey of the Strengths, Weaknesses and Projects for Disaster Management in ACS Countries, a study prepared and executed by consultant Nicole M. Williams, the Association of Caribbean States convened the Second Meeting of the Technical Group of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters on October 9-10, 2000, at ACS Headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Joaquin Alberto Cortez of the Comité de Emergencia Nacional of El Salvador chaired the meeting. Mr. Alberto Cortez had to stand in for Elizabeth Cubías Medina of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who had to remain in El Salvador to coordinate operations directed towards containing the recent dengue-outbreak. Due to unforeseen events Vice-Chairman Mr. Cecil Shillingford from the Office of Disaster Management of Dominica unfortunately also was unable to attend. Ms. Doheny Roosberg and Mr. Xavier C. Prens of the Netherlands Antilles served as rapporteurs of the meeting.

Present during the meeting were representatives from the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Mr. Arturo Lopez-Portillo, Central American Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters (CEPREDENAC), Mr. José Alfredo Peñate, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), Mr. Jeremy Collymore, and the Netherlands Antilles Disaster Agency, Mr. Clemens Ravelli. On behalf of the Secretariat of the ACS director Mario Estrada and Professional Juan Carlos Martinez attended.

After addressing the passing of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Joyce and the subsequent postponement of the Second Meeting of the Technical Group, Mr. Estrada commenced with a short institutional introduction, generally focusing on recent developments within the ACS, in particular on such initiatives as the prioritization and rationalization of the ACS work program, as a result of which four priority-areas have been established: trade, sustainable tourism, transport and natural disasters.

The meeting continued with a presentation by Mrs. Williams, in which she summarized the outcomes of the Survey of the Strengths, Weaknesses and Projects for Disaster Management in ACS Countries and also paid special attention to the recommendations and conclusions with regard to priority areas of interest for regional cooperation. Some discussions occurred during the presentation. These mainly focused on issues such as implementation of already existing regulations, building and construction codes, good practices and community-based aspects of disaster management. Certain delegations made remarks pertaining to specific sections of the survey. The meeting agreed upon the usefulness of the document as a basis for further action to be undertaken by the First meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters.

After a short break the floor was opened for a round of questions, answers and recommendations. The group requested that the consultant enriched the final report of the survey and to incorporate her comments in a schematic way based on matrices. Subsequent discussions treated diverse issues such as the legal framework of the Regional Cooperation Agreement in the Area of Natural Disasters, the absence of input from some distinguished member states, the possibility to actualize the survey on a annual basis, the possibility of designing a management-plan, establishing an administrative structure along the lines of – groupings of – countries, suggestions to be presented to the First meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters and the perceived mismatch with regard to the answers on certain sections of the survey.

The afternoon-session mainly centered on the elaboration of a proposal to be submitted for consideration by the First Meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters, regarding the establishment of a coordinating structure to ensure implementation of specific activities and cooperation initiatives in priority areas for regional cooperation. Based on the conclusions of the survey, the following four areas were identified:

Floods and earthquakes hazard analysis

Early Warning System (EWS) for floods and storm surge

Training, education and awareness programs

Strengthening the Disaster Emergency Management Organization (DEMO)

It was suggested that two working groups are to be established on these priority areas, focusing mainly on reaching tangible results in a relative short period of time. One working group could focus on floods and earthquakes hazard analysis, and an EWS for floods and storm surge, while the other focuses on training programs, education and awareness, and the strengthening of the DEMO. Consensus existed therefore on the need to execute only a limited amount of activities and projects per working group and priority area.

Discussions continued the possibility of maintaining two permanent working groups within the framework of the Special Committee. Several alternative possibilities were discussed. It was suggested that the Special Committee will supervise at the highest level with administrative support from the Secretariat of the ACS, and will monitor the activities of the working groups through the Technical Group that already exists.

The second day of the meeting, October 10, 2000, the group started with a revision of the document entitled "List of Possible Projects on Natural Disasters", in light of the outcomes of the survey, in particular with respect to the four priority areas. Mr. Estrada informed the group that the Special Fund recently approved execution of Project number 2 (i.e. Updating Wind and Earthquake codes in the various ACS Countries and putting them on the Internet and/or CD). It was also recommended that the ACS will submit Project number 4 (i.e. Regional Training Program in Disaster Management comprising of demonstration projects, training, workshops and simulations) for revision and resubmit it for reconsideration of the Technical Group at its next meeting. Project number 11 (i.e. Developing Cooperation between Cuba and the Countries of the ACS for the Protection of Animals in Natural Hydro-meteorological Disasters and serious epizooties) will be submitted to the First Meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters, stating that it does not fit the established criteria, but should be taken into consideration, assuming it has to be restructured. The other project-proposals did not fit the established criteria, and therefore will be withdrawn from the list submitted to the Special Fund. During the discussion on this topic, Mr. Estrada reiterated the need to include possible funding when submitting project-proposals.

The meeting then proceeded to further discuss possible proposals with respect to priority areas for cooperation, strategies and selection criteria to be recommended to the Special Committee.

Based on discussions during the meeting, and by way of summarizing, the following suggestions and/or recommendations are to be submitted to the First Meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters:

Split the Special Committee in two groups. Both groups will be working on activities to be implemented based on the recommendations on the analysis of the survey with respect to the four priority areas

Prepare a tentative list of activities and/or projects to be carried out within the two working groups that are to be established on the priority areas

Request additional information from member countries in order to revise and further improve the quality of the survey

In addition, the following actions are to be undertaken in preparation for the First Meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters:

The members of the Technical Group shall make the necessary arrangements so that selected persons and/or organizations can give presentations to the plenary session of the Special Committee on Early Warning Systems and strengthening capacity of DEMOs.

The representatives of the Netherlands Antilles and El Salvador offered to provide the Secretariat of the ACS with Terms of Reference with respect to the activities to be undertaken by the abovementioned working groups, which will be distributed to the members of the Technical Group for comments prior to the First Meeting of the Special Committee.

The chairman then closed the meeting and invited all delegations present to attend the upcoming First Meeting of the Special Committee on Natural Disasters.