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SEVEN-PAGE SPECIALOCTOBER 25, 2015.

by RONALD JACKSON

THE Caribbean Disaster EmergencyManagement Agency (CDEMA),successor to the CaribbeanDisaster Emergency ResponseAgency, came into being inSeptember 2009. The Agency’smandate was enhanced in an effortto further member states’ adoptionof a disaster loss reduction andmitigation culture in the Caribbean.The agency, however, was stillrequired to continue with theaspects of the CDERA 1991mandate, including:

– Make immediate andcoordinated response to itsparticipating state after a disaster

– Mitigate disaster consequencesin a participating state

– Securing, coordinating andchannelling reliable information

Activating the RegionalResponse Mechanism

In an effort to maximize theprinciples of the regional integrationand solidarity the agency hascontinued to invest in national and regional capacity capable of supporting the needs of each of its members in times of majoremergencies and disasters.

When the need arises, theRegional Response Mechanism(RRM) is activated to support an impacted state.

The RRM has evolved throughlearning from historical events.

The impact of TropicalStorm Erika on Dominica followsprevious rainfall impacts in 2011 andthe Christmas rains in December2013, which provided a signal of

what was likely, given a hazard event of the magnitude of Erika orgreater. CDEMA anticipated thatErika would probably result in aneed for the activation of the RRMin order to effectively respond to the humanitarian needs likely to be generated.

On August 27, 2015, immediatelyafter the impact of Erika onDominica, the executive director ofCDEMA contacted the governmentof Dominica to determine theextent of the impact and initialsupport required.

Following this initial discussionand agreement the RRM wasactivated. The chairman of thecouncil of ministers of CDEMA and the CDEMA Subregional FocalPoint (Barbados), Attorney GeneralAdriel Braithwaite, was briefed on the action to be taken.

An initial briefing was alsoprovided to the Secretary General of CARICOM and discussions heldwith the United Nations (UN)resident coordinator StephenO’Malley regarding the convening ofthe Eastern Caribbean DevelopmentPartners Group for DisasterManagement, which is chaired byCDEMA and the United NationsDevelopment Programme.

This allows for the coordinationof development partner support tothe humanitarian response activatedby the CDEMA Coordinating Unit.

LogisticsOne of the challenges for the

regional system is logistics. Giventhis knowledge, formal letters weresent to the government of Trinidadand Tobago, the French Government

through the consulate in St Luciaand the British government liaison in Barbados to activate support andaccess to air and sea assets capableof addressing the situation.

Initial discussions were also held with the CaribbeanDevelopment Bank to access an Emergency Response Grant to support Dominica’s initialhumanitarian needs.

The CARICOM support throughthe Regional Response Mechanismwas the first on the scene. In fact,the first asset to be utilised was theTrinidad and Tobago Air Guard,which transported the CDEMAassembled and led CARICOMOperational Support and DamageAssessment Coordination teamsinto Dominica the following day tohelp support the National DisasterManagement Agency’s in itsresponse efforts.

The executive director led thismission and provided initial policysupport to the Prime Minister ofDominica in matters related todisaster declaration, external

humanitarian assistance anddetermining Dominica’s immediate needs.

Information for coordinationThe information ascertained

from the policy level interface andthe work done on the ground bythe CDEMA team informed thedonor discussions held betweenCDEMA, the UN and thecommunity of donors and facilitatedthe direction of support for the response operations.

The assessment received fromthe CDEMA deployed teams alsoserved to inform thecommunication dispatched by theCDEMA executive director’s officeto all the CDEMA participatingstates to inform their considerationof support to Dominica.

The CDEMA RRM and theCDEMA technical support teamsremained in Dominica on arotational basis for about twomonths providing advice, technicalsupport in relief management, coordination support in theNational Emergency OperationsCentre, damage assessment, needsanalysis, logistics and guided thestart of the recovery process.

Acknowledging supportWe wish to thank all the

governments, agencies, institutionsand individuals who supported theefforts of the RRM. These includethe participating states Trinidad andTobago, Barbados, St Lucia, Antiguaand Barbuda, St Vincent and theGrenadines, Jamaica, St Kitts andNevis, Grenada, Guyana andMontserrat that contributed human

resources and assets; ourdevelopment partners, the British government for their quick response to our request to assist with the airlift, resourcesand manpower on board the RFA Lyme Bay and the governmentsof the Netherlands and France (Martinique).

Moving ForwardOne of the key messages

communicated to the government of Dominica by CDEMA is the needto examine how land use anddevelopment occur in vulnerableareas in Dominica given the natureof the geography of the island.

The Erika event, though tragic in many ways, has provided anotheropportunity for the communities to be better rebuilt, stronger thanbefore, and for further investment in community resilience building and infrastructure hardening.

This operation was important inmany ways as it allowed theCDEMA system to express thecapabilities of a maturing regionalsystem working in concert withexternal partners to deliver thenecessary support to one of itsmembers. It is a realisation of theintent and aspirations of theCARICOM Integration movementin relation to disaster riskmanagement and as expressed inthe Articles of Agreement creatingCDEMA.

– RONALD JACKSON is the executive director of the Caribbean DisasterEmergency ManagementAgency (CDEMA).

RONALD JACKSON (RC)

2 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL OCTOBER 25, 2015

by CHERYL HAREWOOD

THURSDAY, August 27, 2015, will foreverbe etched in the mind of Don Corriette,Dominica’s National DisasterCoordinator.

While moderate rains had startedaround the hours of 2:30 a.m., Corrietteand his team at the Office of DisasterManagement felt no need to panic or fear.

The Barbados MeteorologicalForecasting Office, which was responsiblefor informing Dominica of any pendingtropical system or storm, did not putDominica under any storm watch orwarning. Tropical Storm Erika was100 miles off the east of the island, travellingwest north-west towards the Lesser Antilles.

Via a telephone interview this past week,Corriette shared on how the island’sinfrastructure was not prepared for a rainevent of such magnitude as was produced byTropical Storm Erika which devastatedparts of the island triggering the interventionof CDEMA’s regional response.

“The night of Wednesday, August 26, intothat Thursday morning, we were of the opinionthat Dominica was in the clear,” Corrietteexplained.

“However, my office did send out a releaseasking the general public to be on alert sinceTropical Storm Danny had taken asudden turn towards Dominica about a weekprior to Tropical Storm Erika. Based onthat pattern we asked the public to monitorand keep track of Erika,”Corriette said.

When one of his programme officers calledaround 3:30 a.m to indicate that he and someof his neighbours were “flooded out” in theirParadise Valley homes and needed to be

evacuated, Corriette then recognised the seriousness of the heavy rains which by that time had intensified. The evacuation process started around 4 a.m. and by 4:45 a.m. a national rescuesystem was activated.

“We did not know the magnitude ofwhat we were dealing with. We left ourhomes to go to our office, but by thenthe roads were blocked by ravaging waterand debris. We went back to theDominica Broadcasting Services, thenational radio station, located in the city.It was from there that we started toreceive calls from districts about theeffect of the rains,” Corriette recalled.

“Between that time and up to 11 a.m., weactivated the Regional Response Mechanism(RRM) through the Caribbean DisasterEmergency Management Agency. By then, ourtelephone system was not working properly.Lines were down and the systems wereoverloaded by people making calls”

Corriette was forced to send outWhatsApp messages to CDEMA andofficials in Trinidad and Tobago. He reported

that Dominica was under torrential rains andrequired help. A call from CDEMA’s executivedirector Ronald Jackson was what was neededto activate emergency response partners intoaction. Martinique and Trinidad and Tobagogovernments responded on that same day.

“From there,” according to Corriette, “wecoordinated activities through CDEMA in St Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.The Regional Security System (RSS) was alsoactivated. Trinidad and Tobago Air Guardresponded from day one, while their Coast

Guard and that of Barbados and St Luciaresponded two days later. These responseswere effective and quick.”

Following initial responses from Martiniqueand Trinidad and Tobago, Corriette workedwith Dominica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Emergency Operating Centre (EOC)received help from the British, Dutch andVenezuelan governments.

“Through the RRM for CDEMA, we wereable to fly our Prime Minister RooseveltSkerrit, who was out of the the island backto Dominica.

“We all worked feverishly and stoodresolute in bringing Dominica back to a state of normalcy.

“We have been battered by avalanches ofmud, rubble, stones and everything else, bestdescribed by many as a land tsunami.

Corriette further explained that close to700 people were displaced in Petit Savanne andother areas and that relocation, resettlement,housing, and care management were still toppriorities.

“We need to provide everything for thosewho have lost their houses and possessions.We are in need of building materials, thepsychological needs continue to be a priority,and people still require nutritious food.

“Dominica is also in need of skilledprofessionals such as engineers, geologists andstructural engineers; While we are makingstrides, it will take a massive effort andassistance, given the level of devastation.”Corriette stressed.

He added with much optimism, “We stillhave countries providing us with regional andinternational assistance and more is expectedgoing forward and for that we are foreverthankful. We are determined to build backDominica better than it was before.”

THE DOMINICA AIRPORT RUNWAY underwater after the passage of Tropical StormErika. (FP)

by PAMELA KNIGHTS

DURING THE EARLY HOURS of Thursday, August 27, thecentre of Tropical Storm Erika passed about 90 milesto the north of Dominica producing intense rainfall acrossthe island. Reports reaching the Caribbean DisasterEmergency Management Agency (CDEMA) on that dayindicated that severe flooding and landslides had occurredand there was widespread damage to housing andinfrastructure throughout the island. Social media was beingused to share photographs of the destruction and reporton casualities and people caught in the landslides.

A situation was unfolding in Dominica that would leadto a Level Three activation of the Regional ResponseMechanism (RRM).

This is a system that is coordinated by the CaribbeanDisaster Emergency Management Agency to providehumanitarian and technical support in a timely manner ifrequested by any of the CDEMA’s 18 participating states.

Since 1991, on the establishment of the CDEMA(formerly the CDERA) by the heads of governments ofCARICOM, response coordination to disaster events hasbeen its primary role. From 1992 to 2015, the RegionalResponse Mechanism has been in action 17 times, and inmany instances to multiple islands at the same time. Theresponse has been to disasters resulting from volcaniceruptions, earthquakes, and weather related events.

The level of activation or support provided through theRRM is determined by the country’s ability to cope with adisaster event. Of the three levels within the RRM, directsupport is provided in response to a Level Two or LevelThree event and monitoring and reporting for a Level One.

A Level Two disaster event is a situation where thecountry may or may not have declared a disaster but maynot have the resources to fully manage the event. Theaffected country will indicate to CDEMA the type ofexternal assistance required and the CDEMA CoordinatingUnit will mobilise and deploy the relevant personnel andequipment.

Disaster events such as Hurricane Andrew – The Bahamas, 1992; Debby – St Lucia, 1994; Keith –Belize, 2000; and Tomas – St Lucia, St Vincent and theGrenadines, 2010; and Hurricane Joaquin – TheBahamas, 2015 have seen countries benefiting from a Level Two response.

CDEMA will trigger a Level Three response when thereis a devastating event that overwhelms a country’s capacityto cope and which causes a government to declare disasterareas or a national disaster. The Haiti earthquake in 2010,

OCTOBER 25, 2015 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL 3

• Continued on next page.

THE LEVEL OF ACTIVATION or support providedthrough the RRM is determined by the country’sability to cope with a disaster event. (FP)

by LESLIE WALLING

THE ERIKA EVENT in Dominica saw a Level Threeactivation of the RRM. A synopsis of the key aspects are illustrated in the infographic (above).

• From Page 3.

Hurricane Ivan (Grenada, 2004), Montserrat volcanocrisis 1995-1996 all resulted in full-scale operations of theRRM at Level Three.

The RRM is extremely dependent on the readiness andwillingness of the governments of the CDEMA participatingstates, regional institutions, key development partners,agencies of the United Nations and humanitarian partnersto work together when the call comes from the CDEMACoordinating Unit.

The support may include the provision and distributionof relief supplies, logistics for security and movement ofsupplies from national or regional warehouses, search andrescue, health and medical assistance, emergencyoperations management, emergency communications,damage and needs assessments.

It is the responsibility of the CDEMA Coordinating Unitto ensure that regional response teams are trained andready for deployment at short notice. The pool of thetechnical teams are drawn from universities, nationaldisaster offices, emergency response services such as fireand medical, disciplined services, regional specialisedinstitutions such as the Caribbean Institute forMeteorology and Hydrology, the Seismic Research Centrein Trinidad and Tobago, and the Regional Security System.

On activation, the RRM is managed through theRegional Coordination Centre (RCC) which is located at the CDEMA Coordinating Unit in Barbados with thesupport from the country designated as the sub-regionalfocal point (SRFP) for the impacted country.

CDEMA has four SRFPs in Antigua and Barbuda,Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. As soon as the executive director of CDEMA receives a request forexternal assistance, the RCC is activated and key partnersare notified. The response teams that are initially placed on standby when a country faces an imminent threat arealso notified of deployment arrangements.

A critical function of the RCC is ensuring timely andefficient coordination for mobilisation and deployment ofpersonnel, relief supplies, and other assets to the affectedstate. Meetings of the Eastern Caribbean DevelopmentPartners Group for Disaster Management and the sharingof information by the various response agencies on theground are also key to providing a coordinated andeffective response.

RCC is responsible for collating and sharing all officialinformation received from partners and teams on theground. The RCC and RRM are deactivated when thecountry is better able to cope in the aftermath of theevent or has moved from relief and response operationsand is beginning to look at its recovery from the disaster.

4 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL OCTOBER 25, 2015

AT THE HEADQUARTERS ASHORE Second Officer Phil Harris and LMALauren Armour (far left) distributing disposable diapers and babyformula to a Dominican woman (GP)

MEXEFLOTE deploys from the Royal Fleet AuxillaryLyme Bay to shore with support vehicles. (GP)

OCTOBER 25, 2015 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL 5

by CHERYL HAREWOOD

WHILE THE CARIBBEAN DisasterEmergency Management Agency’s(CDEMA) Coordinating Unit is thefocal point for effecting the regionalresponse mechanism plan in the faceof a disaster in CDEMA’s 18-memberparticipating states of Anguilla,Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada,Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turksand Caicos Islands and the VirginIslands, these countries are groupedinto four sub-regions, each of whichis headed by an operations unitknown as a subregional focal point (SRFP).

The SRFPs, which are managedand coordinated through CDEMA’sCoordination Unit, are CDEMA’sfrontline response to member states.They assist with better managing,coordinating and respondingeffectively to various states during or after a disaster.

Barbados is the SRFP for thecentral region, which comprises

Dominica, St Lucia, and St Vincentand the Grenadines. As such, throughthe Department of EmergencyManagement (DEM), Barbados playeda pivotal role in providing assistanceto Dominica – working incollaboration with CDEMA’sCoordinating Unit; participatingstates; and national, regional andinternational agencies.

The SRFP for the eastern regionis led by Antigua and Barbuda andcomprises Anguilla, Monserrat, St Kitts and Nevis and the BritishVirgin Islands.

The north-western subregion isled by Jamaica and comprises Belize,Haiti, The Bahamas and Turks andCaicos, while the southern subregion’s focal point is Trinidad and Tobago. Within this region areGrenada, Guyana and Suriname.

According to Kerry Hinds, acting director of the DEM:“Barbados saw the need for asignificant response to assistDominicans in their time of need,through the CDEMA CoordinationUnit, which triggered the responsemechanism after Dominica requestedsupport from CDEMA during

Tropical Storm Erika. “Since Barbados is the focal point

for Dominica and based on ourgeographical location, CDEMAturned to Barbados first bycontacting the DEM. We had oursystems in place to respond,” Hinds said.

It was the head of CDEMA,executive director Ronald Jacksonwho led a CDEMA team toDominica on board a helicopterprovided by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Part of Jackson’s task involvedreporting to Dominica’s nationalcoordinator Don Corriette, PrimeMinister Roosevelt Skerrit, and other

government officials, to determinethe immediate needs of Dominicans,carry out rapid assessments, and get an overview and insight of whatwas taking place in Dominica.

Jackson and his team fed theirinformation back to the DEM,advising this department to providesearch and rescue personnel and equipment.

Hinds explained: “Quite a lot of requirements were presented tothe DEM. We immediately called thechief fire officer who deployed sixfire officers led by divisional officerGordon Boxill and another team was placed on standby.

“As the SRFP for Dominica, we also enlisted the assistance of the Barbados Coast Guard,mobilising their two sea assets theTrident and HMBS LeonardBanfield.

These vessels travelled back andforth transporting emergencysupplies, emergency responsepersonnel, including the search andrescue teams and media personnel.”

Hinds continues to work withCDEMA and donor agencies inmonitoring the needs of Dominica as this country and its peoplecontinue their long rebuildingprocess.

MEMBERS OF the Barbados Coast Guard in action during theTropical Storm Erika response. Inset is Kerry Hinds, actingdirector of the Department of Emergency Management. (FPs)

THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) wasted no timeor effort in reaching out to the people ofDominica in the aftermath of Tropical StormErika, which wreaked havoc on this CARICOMcountry on August 27.

Through its residentcoordinator for Barbados and theOrganisation of EasternCaribbean States(OECS), Steve O’Malley,the UN was one of theinternational bodieswhich quickly providedaid to Dominica’s PrimeMinister RooseveltSkerrit and Dominicansat large.

O’Malley and his teamjoined forces with theCaribbean DisasterEmergency ManagementAgency (CDEMA), whichthe UN views as theresponsible regionalresponse organisationwhen disasters strike.

“We have our ownarrangements with CDEMA so if there is a large-scale disasterwe work with them as part of the Eastern CaribbeanDevelopment Partners Group, an entity which I co-chair withCDEMA’s executive director Ronald Jackson.

“We bring together the donors, the development banks, theDisaster Emergency Management and the Regional SecuritySystem to discuss how to respond to disasters like Dominica.

“Our co-shared roles ensure that any country wheredisaster strikes receives the most coherent response,”O’Malley explained.

“CDEMA organised emergency teams to enter Dominica,while from a United Nations’ perspective, the Ministry ofHealth requested the PanAmerican HealthOrganization (PAHO) todeploy their emergencyteams.”

These scenarios playedout as PAHO inspectedDominica and respondedto the island’s immediateneeds, which includedensuring that healthfacilities were operational,and the environmentalhealth of Dominicans,including their drinkingwater and sanitation needswere being met.

Three days after Tropical Storm Erika, which left 14dead, 16 still missing, and hundreds homeless, the PAHO andthe United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) began the taskof sending aid to Dominica thanks to the Barbados CoastGuard’s vessel, The Trident. UNICEF also providedcounselling, school kits and other items as requested. Today, theUN is still providing a range of assistance as the country triesto rebuild and resettle people.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)had already mobilised finances to the tune of US$50 000(BDS100 000) to Dominica’s Office of Disaster Management,headed by national disaster coordinator Don Corriette. Thesefunds were made possible via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in New York.

In addition, the International Telecommunications Unionprovided 15 Iridium Satellite phones, four Broadband GlobalArea Network terminals and two personnel who were usedfor assessment missions and to support communicationlinkages with those in isolated areas. These phones are stillbeing used.

Another UN agency to offer assistance was the UnitedNations Population Fund, which provided Dominican womenwith hygienic kits, and worked hand in hand with the UnitedNations Women, an organisation dedicated to gender equalityand the empowerment of women.

The Dominica government felt that while aid in the form of items was being provided, it was important to procure asmuch as possible in Dominica to keep businesses open andDominicans employed.

To this end, the UNDP received additional funding which,among other purposes, was used to deploy a resettlement

advisor to help Dominica’s government look at resettling thosewho were displaced.

Additional assistance came from the United Nations Foodand Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, whichlaunched an ongoing programme to clear and rebuild watercourses and small agricultural feeder roads.

O’Malley, who visited Dominica a week after the disaster to take part in meetings with CDEMA, UN personnel and the Dominica government, described witnessing the damageas “impactful”.

“It makes an impact on you when you see how a relativelyshort period of heavy rainfall can affect a country.”

Last week, the UNDP and CDEMA again looked at

Dominica’s resettlement stages. Discussions and dialogueregarding further assistance are ongoing.

“It is clear that some residents will have to be relocated andgovernment is desirous of ensuring they are moved to saferlocations. We must look at ways of how to do this and how to mitigate the risks involved,” O’Malley sadd.

He added, “Many people in Dominica have always lived byrivers, slopes and hills. [In this aftermath], Government seesthis as an opportunity to ensure that they build back betterin order to reduce the risk of potential disasters.”

O’Malley has praised CDEMA for its work and response actions.

“CDEMA has been able to advise the Dominicangovernment on its response and coordination measures andhow best to start on the road to recovery.

“The real strength of CDEMA is preparedness and beingable to quickly deploy emergency personnel from across theregion to assist when disasters strike. Dominica has a long roadahead to rebuild and a good sense of how this must be done,”O’Malley concluded.

6 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL OCTOBER 25, 2015

KITS WITH sanitary items wereprovided for the women ofDominica. (GP)

by CHERYL HAREWOOD

OCTOBER 25, 2015 SUNDAY SUN SPECIAL 7

THE CARICOM PARTICIPATING STATES

of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados,

St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda,

St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica,

St Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Grenada

and Montserrat, including many key

private, public and international entities,

responded to the distress calls of

Dominica and quickly helped to put this

country back to a state of relative

normalcy.

The needs in Dominica are still great

but with the help of CDEMA and its

partners, Dominicans are

using this chapter in their lives to better

rebuild their communities, as they look

with hope towards the future.

Above are various organisations and

entities that also united to assist

Dominica:

STAFF MEMBERS ofthe CaribbeanDisaster EmergencyManagementAgency. (RC)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency extends its appreciation to the Nation

Publishing Company, especially Wendey Delaney, Lyle Jones, Cheryl Harewood and team for the printing

and publishing of the Sunday Sun seven page special on the CDEMA response to Tropical Strom Erika’s

impact on Dominica.

CDEMA is extremely grateful to the companies whose generous advertising support made this Sunday

Sun special a reality. We thank you, Barbados Light and Power Company, BRC, C.O.Williams, Digicel,

Ecoisle, Flow, Next Generation Electrical, Oran and Tropical Shipping.

CDEMA also wishes to acknowledge with thanks all our partners and stakeholders who took time to

select and send us photographs or paused their busy schedules to be interviewed, namely, the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean

States, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID),

United States Agency for International Development/Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance

(USAID/OFDA), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)/Anglo-Caribbean

Pan-American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU), Department of Emergency Management, Barbados and

Office of Disaster Management, Dominica.

CDEMA is also grateful to the management and staff of the CDEMA Coordinating Unit for their effort in

coordinating the publication of this special feature to highlight the work of the Regional Response

Mechanism. Special thanks to Leslie Walling and Pamela Knights for leading the process. CDEMA also

takes this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the CDEMA coordinated response effort to

Dominica.