2020 HURRICANE SEASON October update

Emergency preparedness and response in times of Group (INSARAG). OCHA is pre-positioning personal COVID-19. Governments across the have protective equipment for responders and will take all implemented physical distancing and lockdown measures in necessary measures, in line with government protocols, to response to the COVID-19 outbreak, greatly complicating ensure the safety of responders and affected communities. preparedness actions and creating a dynamic response Photo: UN/OCHA/Mark Garten environment, as countries brace for the brunt of a potential COVID-19 operating environment provides opportunity two-tier crisis.3 Given that the COVID-19 emergency is to strengthen humanitarian-development collaboration. overlapping with the hurricane season, regional coordination To build back better and strengthen the resilience of structures and mechanisms must be adapted to the new governments and communities to withstand the impact of KEY MESSAGES operating environment in order to effectively support national crises and disasters, early alignment and joint planning of preparedness and response efforts,ensuring alignment, humanitarian and development efforts have proven helpful. OCHA Extremely active season, three to six major hurricanes Ongoing efforts to achieve operational readiness. complementarity and coordination with the ongoing national This will be especially important during the 2020 hurricane In early August, the US National Oceanic and Regional Office for and the Caribbean expected. and regional response to COVID-19. season given the multidimensional impacts of COVID-19 in Atmospheric Administration revised its outlook for the (ROLAC) and UN agencies continue to actively work with the the region, which threatens to reverse the hard-earned hurricane season, predicting 19-25 named storms, with 7-11 humanitarian community, key national and international COVID-19 exacerbates socio-economic vulnerability and development gains of the past decade and exacerbate becoming hurricanes, including 3-6 major hurricanes partners as well as the main coordination actors at the country increases humanitarian needs. The COVID-19 crisis has socio-economic vulnerability, while at the same time (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale). The and regional levels to enhance operational readiness. OCHA had a significant impact on economic and social life in the diminishing the resilience of communities to recover from season is currently on pace to become the most active ever, ROLAC is producing information products for governments Caribbean. The restrictive measures implemented across disasters. COVID-19 not only presents an exceptional already producing 26 named storms, including three major and international responders and delivering virtual information the region to contain the spread of the virus have greatly challenge but also a unique opportunity to strengthen hurricanes, which is more than double the long-term average and training sessions to support partners, Resident exacerbated the socio-economic situation, leading to collaboration between development, health and humanitarian 1 of 12 for an entire season. In fact, the season has been so Coordinator Offices and UN Country Teams in their increased unemployment, growing genderbased violence response efforts in the region. Accordingly, preparedness and active that the US National Hurricane Center resorted to using preparation for the peak of the hurricane season. In doing so, and protection risks, and the disruption of supply chains response efforts should include active participation of the Greek alphabet for only the second time in history after the efforts are being made to ensure the incorporation of lessons which threatens food and nutrition security.4 In many cases, development actors and health entities in order to ensure that number of storms exceeded regular naming conventions. learned from the 2017 and 2019 hurricane seasons in order to government assistance channeled through national social early recovery and health considerations are integrated into Despite 2020’s frantic pace, there has fortunately been an address gaps in preparedness and to reinforce coordination security schemes has failed to reach the most vulnerable planning efforts for a moreeffective and efficient response. absence of major hurricane impacts so far, but some weaker mechanisms for improved response readiness. who depend on the informal sector for their jobs and storms have still considerably affected countries across the livelihoods.5 As a result, the COVID-19 crisis has significantly The UN supports national and regional organizations and Caribbean. OCHA continues to support the Regional Response increased poverty and inequality across the region, which structures to ensure effective and efficient response. An Mechanism. Following the destruction brought by the 2017 could potentially deteriorate the fragile security situation in effective and efficient humanitarian response depends on Trend shows increase in the intensity of extreme weather hurricane season, OCHA ROLAC embarked on a capacity- some countries and add an extra layer of complexity to robust in-country response capacity and strong local events. Storms impacting the Caribbean are becoming building process with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency response and recovery efforts in the region. structures and organizations, including local increasingly more powerful, producing increased rainfall and Management Agency (CDEMA) through a Caribbean non-governmental organizations and the Red Cross and Red higher storm surge. The 2017 hurricane season, the fifth most preparedness project funded by the European Civil Protection UN response contingent upon national policy. OCHA Crescent Movement, to support government efforts to deliver active season on record, featured 17 named storms and and Humanitarian Aid Operations. In a series of workshops ROLAC, UN agencies and international humanitarian appropriate, efficient and timely humanitarian assistance to multiple Category 5 hurricanes.2 Two major hurricanes, Irma carried out in CDEMA’s sub-hubs (, organizations are prepared to respond to an emergency in affected populations. At the national level, under the and Maria, wreaked havoc on Caribbean that year, , , and ), OCHA ROLAC the Caribbean in support of national response efforts. leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), the UN aims affecting millions of people and causing major damages and worked closely with CDEMA and national counterparts to However, international surge capacity and remote support to strengthen the capacities of national and local organizations losses as well as significant human casualties. In September strengthen joint assessments, coordination and information will largely depend on government policies on the to prepare for and respond to crises. At the regional level, 2019, Hurricane Dorian became the strongest Atlantic management to enhance the response capacity of the acceptance of international assistance in the context of together with CDEMA, efforts are aimed at improving hurricane on record to directly impact a landmass when it Regional Response Mechanism (RRM). OCHA will continue to COVID-19. Upon request from governments, OCHA is readiness and response across the Caribbean region through violently struck the northwestern islands of .3 bolster the capacity of the RRM and, when activated, provide prepared to mobilize context-appropriate response support shared preparedness standards and response protocols as Both the increased frequency and intensity of storms in the support to CDEMA’s Regional Coordination Centre in through remote assistance and the deployment of response well as through strengthening the RRM. To help bolster these region mean less time for recovery between disaster events accordance with the principles, procedures and protocols teams, including UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination efforts, OCHA ROLAC established a Humanitarian Advisory for affected governments and populations. agreed to by CDEMA and OCHA. (UNDAC) and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Team (HAT) in Barbados to support the UN RC in strengthening localized readiness and response capacities in the highly vulnerable Eastern Caribbean.

The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to Coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises. We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. www.unocha.org Bahamas Atlantic Turks and Ocean Caicos Islands British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Saint Martin Antigua Jamaica and and Barbuda St. Lucia Barbados St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago

Costa Rica North Pacific Ocean

Colombia Guyana Suriname

Emergency preparedness and response in times of COVID-19 operating environment provides opportunity to COVID-19. Governments across the region have implemented strengthen humanitarian-development collaboration. To physical distancing and lockdown measures in response to the build back better and strengthen the resilience of governments COVID-19 outbreak, greatly complicating preparedness actions and communities to withstand the impact of crises and disasters, and creating a dynamic response environment, as countries early alignment and joint planning of humanitarian and brace for the brunt of a potential two-tier crisis. Given that the development efforts have proven helpful. This is especially COVID-19 emergency is overlapping with the hurricane season, important during the 2020 hurricane season given the regional coordination structures and mechanisms must be multidimensional impacts of COVID-19 in the region, which adapted to the new operating environment in order to effectively threaten to reverse the hard-earned development gains of the support national preparedness and response efforts, ensuring past decade and exacerbate socio-economic vulnerability, while alignment, complementarity and coordination with the ongoing at the same time diminishing the resilience of communities to national and regional response to COVID-19. UN Country recover from disasters. COVID-19 not only presents an Extremely active season, three to six major hurricanes Ongoing efforts to achieve operational readiness. OCHA Teams in Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and exceptional challenge but also a unique opportunity to expected. In early August, the National Oceanic and Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Jamaica have developed COVID-19 response plans to respond strengthen collaboration between development, health and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) revised its outlook for (ROLAC) and UN agencies continue to actively work with the to the growing humanitarian needs created by the pandemic. In humanitarian partners in the region. Accordingly, preparedness the hurricane season, predicting 19-25 named storms, with humanitarian community, key national and international addition, CDEMA has implemented a preparedness and and response efforts should include active participation of 7-11 becoming hurricanes, including 3-6 major hurricanes partners as well as the main coordination actors at the response plan to support its Participating States, including the development actors and health entities in order to ensure that establishment of the Integrated Regional Logistics Hub in early recovery and health considerations are integrated into (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale). The country and regional levels to enhance operational Barbados, with the support of the World Food Programme planning efforts for a more effective and efficient response. season is currently on pace to become the most active ever, readiness. OCHA ROLAC is producing information products (WFP), to facilitate the distribution of personal protective already producing 25 named storms, more than double the for governments and international responders and delivering equipment, testing kits and relief items. The UN supports national and regional organizations and long-term average of 12 for an entire season. In fact, the virtual information and training sessions to support partners, structures to ensure effective and efficient response. An season has been so active that the National Hurricane Resident Coordinator Offices and UN Country Teams in their COVID-19 exacerbates socio-economic vulnerability and effective and efficient humanitarian response depends on Center (NHC) resorted to using the Greek alphabet for only preparation for the peak of the hurricane season. In doing increases humanitarian needs. The COVID-19 crisis has had robust in-country response capacity and strong local structures the second time in history after the number of storms so, efforts to ensure the incorporation of lessons learned a significant impact on economic and social life in the and organizations, including local non-governmental exceeded regular naming conventions. Despite 2020’s from the 2017 and 2019 hurricane seasons to address gaps Caribbean. The restrictive measures implemented across the organizations and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, frantic pace, there has fortunately been an absence of major in preparedness identified and to reinforce coordination region to contain the spread of the virus have greatly to support government efforts to deliver appropriate, efficient hurricane impacts so far, but some weaker storms have still mechanisms for improved response readiness. exacerbated the socio-economic situation, leading to increased and timely humanitarian assistance to affected populations. At considerably affected countries across the Caribbean. unemployment, growing gender-based violence and protection the national level, under the leadership of the UN Resident risks and the disruption of supply chains which threaten food OCHA continues to support the Regional Response Coordinator (RC), the UN aims to strengthen the capacities of security.4 In many cases, government assistance channeled national and local organizations to prepare for and respond to Trend shows increase in the intensity of extreme Mechanism. Following the destruction of the 2017 hurricane through national social security schemes has failed to reach the crises. At the regional level, together with CDEMA, efforts are weather events. Storms impacting the Caribbean are season, OCHA ROLAC embarked on a capacity building most vulnerable who depend on the informal sector for their jobs aimed at improving readiness and response across the becoming increasingly more powerful, producing increased process with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency and livelihoods.5 As a result, the COVID-19 crisis has Caribbean region through shared preparedness standards and rainfall and higher storm surge. The 2017 hurricane season, Management Agency (CDEMA) through a Caribbean significantly increased poverty and inequality across the region, response protocols as well as through strengthening the RRM. the fifth most active season on record, featured 17 named preparedness project funded by the European Civil Protection which could potentially deteriorate the fragile security situation in To help bolster these efforts, OCHA ROLAC established a storms and multiple Category 5 hurricanes.1 Two major and Humanitarian Aid Operation (ECHO). In a series of some countries and add an extra layer of complexity to Humanitarian Advisory Team in Barbados to support the UN hurricanes, Irma and Maria, wreaked havoc on Caribbean workshops carried out in CDEMA’s sub-hubs (Antigua and response and recovery efforts in the region. RC in strengthening localized readiness and response islands that year, affecting millions of people and causing Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago), capacities in the highly vulnerable Eastern Caribbean. major damages andlosses as well as significant human OCHA ROLAC worked closely with CDEMA and national UN response contingent upon national policy. OCHA casualties. In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian became counterparts to strengthen joint assessments, coordination ROLAC, UN agencies and international humanitarian the strongest on record to directly impact a and information management to enhance the response organizations are prepared to respond to an emergency in the Caribbean in support of national response efforts. However, landmass when it violently struck the northwestern islands of capacity of the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM). international surge capacity and remote support will largely The Bahamas.2 Both the increased frequency and intensity OCHA will continue to bolster the capacity of the RRM and, depend on government policies on the acceptance of of storms in the region means less time for recovery between when activated, provide support to CDEMA’s Regional international assistance in the context of COVID-19. Upon disaster events for affected governments and populations. Coordination Centre in accordance with the principles, request from governments, OCHA is prepared to mobilize procedures and protocols agreed to by CDEMA and OCHA. context-appropriate response support through remote assistance and the deployment of response teams, including UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) and the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

Sources: 1) NOAA / 2) NOAA / 3) NOAA / 4) UN Barbados and OECS / 5) UN Barbados and OECS.

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