The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), having recognised the need for each country susceptible to disasters to have appropriate construction standards, undertook early last year, through its Special Committee on Natural Disasters, the task of reviewing the relationship between its Members and Mother Nature. Unfortunately, the numbers and projections were not at all encouraging. The results showed that the economic impact of disasters in the Greater Caribbean was approximately US$3 billion per year during the period 1970-2002.

What is more alarming is knowing that one conservative estimate indicated that the number of events and the magnitude of the effects (human and material losses) would be doubled in half the time, at an average growth rate of 4% per year.

In light of this situation, it was imperative that practical tools be developed to allow Countries to reduce their risks, identify financial mechanisms in the event of a disaster and learn how to be economically prepared to tackle emergency situations.

The first step or tool was the review of existing Building Codes, then the production and dissemination of state-of-the-art model codes for wind loads and earthquakes as well as recommendations for the updating of existing codes, so that ACS Member Countries would be able to develop better construction practices and techniques for the building of safe and reliable buildings.

The second tool was the identification of financial mechanisms for disaster response, their mode of operation, who can apply, amounts, application forms, etc., that is to say, a flexible tool that would allow Countries to access financing after a disaster.

To meet this need, the Association of Caribbean States produced a CD-Rom, which includes data on potential financial institutions. The information is presented from a risk management perspective and is geared toward assisting Countries after the occurrence of a disaster, in the areas of prevention, preparation, mitigation, aid, rehabilitation or reconstruction.

The studies conducted yielded as a result, the fact that several countries do not have national disaster funds, which produced the third step or tool developed by the ACS. It was understood that Countries must be assisted in creating their own national funds. This led to the conclusion that a workshop needs to be held, during which success stories would be exchanged, thus demonstrating the best practices and uses of existing National Funds. In addition, it would outline the path to be followed so that those Countries that are still without National Funds could create them as flexible and effective disaster response instruments.

These are three tools or steps given by the Special Committee on Natural Disasters of the Association of Caribbean States to help Countries to be better prepared for natural disasters that harm the region.

All the abovementioned documents are available on CD-ROM and were provided to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the ACS Countries, and to Focal Points in the area of the Natural Disasters. Copies of the "Model Building Codes for Earthquakes and Wind Loads" and the "Post-Disaster Financing Mechanisms" can be obtained from the ACS Liaison in each country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or directly from the ACS Secretariat.

More and more, the region is focussing its efforts on preparation and prevention activities against the surprises cast upon us by Mother Nature. With better-prepared Countries, not only will we reduce the negative economic and material effects, but more importantly, we will reduce losses in human life.

Mr. Carlos Dávila Sánchez is the Director of Natural Disasters and Transport of the Association of Caribbean States.The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org

(end)

27 September, 2004