Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Georgia: Floods DREF Operation MDRGE009 Glide n° FL-2014-000136-GEO Date of issue: 1 October 2014 Expected timeframe: 3 months DREF allocated: CHF 155,037 Number of people affected: 12,000 Number of people to be assisted: 2,400 Host National Society(ies) presence (n° of volunteers, staff, branches involved in this operation): Georgia Red Cross Society with 26 staff and 120 volunteers in 4 branches. Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners actively involved in the operation (if available and relevant): - A. Situation analysis Description of the disaster On 21 - 24 September heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in the Batumi, Kobuleti (Adjara Region) and Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti, Chokhatauri (Guria Region) municipalities of Georgia. Houses, yards and agricultural lands have been seriously flooded. Stormy winds have also hit the above mentioned municipalities. 120 persons have been evacuated from Kobuleti Municipality who returned to their houses after the houses were checked by the fire brigades and rescue services. The flood damaged the water reservoir in Ozurgeti Municipality, which is serving 75% of the population in Ozurgeti. The main building of reservoir was damaged and local authorities were unable to reach there so as to assess the size of damage, as the roads are destroyed. The disaster damaged the electricity lines in four villages of Shemokmedi, Tskhemliskhidi, Likhauri, and Chianeti, leaving 1,200 families without electricity. Red Cross Volunteers are supporting affected person, Village Nigvziani Photo by: Nata Jordania The raised water level in the river carried away many electric transmitting cables and poles, which needed several days to be repaired. Local authorities and relevant structures are working on reconstruction of the roads, as well as other infrastructure. Five families in the village Nigvziani (Lanchkhuti Municipality) were isolated from the outside world. There were also electricity lines damaged, and 57 families were left without electricity for a few days. In the village of Supsa, houses were damaged from the heavy and prolonged rains; one family was left homeless who was supported by Local Authorities with temporary house. In the village Shemokmedi, traffic was restricted because of flooding. 50 metres of the Ozurgeti - Shemokmedi connecting highway was destroyed by the river Bjuji. Several houses were flooded there, and 10 families have been evacuated who were supported by the Local Authorities and relevant structures Summary of the current response Overview of Host National Society The Georgia Red Cross Society`s (GRCS) Disaster Management (DM) Department has already sent 16 DM staff and 67 GRCS volunteers in the affected areas (Batumi, Kobuleti, Ozurgeti, Lanchkhuti and Chokhatauri (Guria Region) Municipalities to conduct a rapid assessment of the situation. They are supporting the affected population by carrying out psychosocial support, providing First Aid as well as assisting fire and rescue brigades in the evacuation of the population from the flooded houses.. The teams were also coordinating with the local authorities in the affected regions and are ready to further support affected population and relevant structures if needed. At Red Cross Volunteers are supporting an affected person, the same time volunteers in the field are assessing the Guria Region situation and sending updates to the HQ. Photo by: Nata Zhordania The next steps for the National Society, following the approval of this Emergency Plan of Action, will include a detailed assessment to identify and select the most vulnerable families, with the aim to procure and distribute relief supplies to the most affected people. Coordination and partnership The Georgia Red Cross Society is coordinating its assistance with the national and local authorities. The National Society seeks to fulfil its auxiliary role to the Government of Georgia and its role as the sole Georgian humanitarian organization being included in the National Disaster Response Plan of Georgia. Close coordination and information sharing is maintained with the State Emergency Department of Georgia under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in Tbilisi, and the Red Cross Branches in the affected areas. By the order of the Prime Minister, the Emergency Management Department (EMD) established a Task Force to tackle with the effects of the disaster. The Task Force consists of different Ministry representatives and the Red Cross Society Representative in Batumi. In the affected area, the Georgia Red Cross Society is taking the lead in the response to the flooding and landslides, coordinating its work with the country representations of the International Federation of the Red Red Cross Volunteers are supporting a family in Surmanidze’s Family, Batumi Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Photo by: Otar Davitadze Committee of the Red Cross and NGOs working in the Disaster Management field. The GRCS is providing regular updates on the situation and activities planned to avoid any duplication of activities. Overview of non-RCRC actors in country The Georgia Red Cross Society`s Disaster Management Department is constantly sharing information with the non-state actors in Georgia working in the Disaster Management field on the ongoing response activities conducted from the Government and Red Cross side. At the same time non-state actors are sharing information on their capacities to be involved in the response activities. The National Society is also in contact with the European Commission`s (EC) Tbilisi Office, and information is being shared in order to avoid duplication and ensure that the most vulnerable people are reached. Response of the non-state actors will be coordinated. Needs analysis, beneficiary selection, risk assessment and scenario planning Georgia is prone to many natural disasters. Last year GRCS experienced four DREF operations mainly for floods, heavy winds and landslides. For better preparedness and response GRCS prepared Red Cross volunteers in Disaster prone areas in conducting needs assessment, PSS, First Aid, etc. Close cooperation has been established with relevant structures and services. Based on the information received from local authorities, and from the GRCS assessment teams, the needs of people affected by the flood and landslide are: Basic non-food items including blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets; Hygiene kits for families; Food items. Beneficiaries were identified by the assessment conducted by GRCS branch level volunteers, and at the same time information of the beneficiaries was provided by the local authorities in the affected regions. (600 families make up approximately 2,400 people as there are four people in one family on average). The beneficiaries are selected according to the following criteria: Elderly people living alone; People living with disabilities; Families with small children; Female-headed households; Evacuated people Table 1 – Beneficiaries to be assisted per municipalities and villages # Target Location Number of Families Adjara Region 1. Batumi (city) 320 2. Kobuleti Municipality 3. Kobuleti (town) 9 4. Chaisubani 3 5. Chakvi 5 6. Khala 5 7. Chakvistavi 3 8. Sachino 3 9. Achkva 3 10. Tsikhisdziri 3 11. Chakhati 13 12. Kobuleti 5 13. Kokhi 3 14. Khutsubani 3 15. Sameba 6 16. Gvara 3 17. Leghva 5 18. Kakuti 7 19. Kvirike 7 20. Achkvistavi 7 21. Dagva 4 22. Bobokvati 3 23. Guria Region 24. Chokhatauri Municipality 25. Chokatauri (town) 15 26. DablaTsikhe (village) 5 27. Vanzomleti (village) 5 28. Khidistavi (village) 5 29. Chaisubani (village) 5 30. Nabeghlavi (village) 5 31. Kokhnari (village) 5 32. Guturi (village) 5 33. Ozurgeti Municipality 34. Ozurgeti (town) 25 35. Shemokmedi (village) 15 36. Dvabzu (Village 10 37. Lanchkhuti Municipality 38. Lanchkhuti (town) 10 39. Chochkhati (village) 20 40. Supsa (village) 20 41. Nigoiti (village) 15 42. Lesa (village) 15 Total 600 B. Operational strategy and plan Overall objective Immediate relief assistance will be provided by Georgia Red Cross Society to the selected 600 households (2,400 people) through the distribution of food and non-food items for three months. Proposed strategy GRCS is planning the following activities within the EPoA operation: Detailed needs assessment and finalization of the beneficiary list agreed with local authorities; Distribution of household items (mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets) to the selected 600 families (2,400 people); Improvement of the hygiene situation of 600 families by distributing hygiene kits; Food parcels will be distributed to the affected people.. Table 2 – Content of kitchen sets Items Quantity Frying pan 1 piece per set Cooking pot 1 piece per set Knife 6 pieces per set Spoon 6 pieces per set Plate 6 pieces per set Cup 6 pieces per set Table 3 – Content of hygiene kits Items Quantity Shampoo 1 unit per kit - 500 mg Tooth paste 1 unit per kit Tooth brush 2 units per kit Toilet paper 2 units per kit Soap 3 units per kit Bath towel 2 units per kit Washing powder 3 packs per kit - 900 mg Dishwashing liquid 1 pack per kit - 500ml Shaving foam 1 unit per kit Razor for shaving 1 piece per kit Table 4 – Content of food parcels Content of food parcel Quantity Flour 2 kg per parcel Oil 1 bottle (920 mg) per parcel Salt 1 kg per parcel Sugar 2 kg per parcel Rice 1.5 kg per parcel Tea 1 package per parcel Pasta 3 packages (0.25 kg) per parcel Buckwheat 1 package per parcel Cereals 1 package per parcel Operational support services Human resources 26 staff and 120 volunteers of the Georgia Red Cross Society, who will be covered by global volunteer insurance for the duration of the operation, are needed to be involved so as to complete the operational plan. Technical support is provided to the GRCS by the IFRC Europe Zone Disaster Management Team. Logistics and supply chain The Georgian Red Cross has a logistic department and procurement guidelines in place which are in agreement Red Cross Volunteers are supporting affected person in Batumi Photo by: Otar Davitadze with the IFRC`s procurement standards and the locally pertaining legal requirements.