The remote islands of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands are susceptible to a number of natural disasters. A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER ON digest DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS disaster VOL 1. 4TH QUARTER, 2010 FEMA/USAID DISASTER MITIGATION, RELIEF, AND RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAM Disaster History in Micronesia FEMA has a long history of mudslides, and severe droughts. This assistance to Micronesia, however in assistance ranged from medical Of the 25 Federal Emergency recognition of the sovereign status of the assistance through reconstruction of Management Agency (FEMA) declared FSM and RMI the U.S. Congress deemed public and private infrastructure. Under typhoon disasters of varying magnitudes USAID to be a more appropriate agency the new structure USAID has assumed in the Republic of the Marshall Islands to administer assistance. these roles and responsibilities. Under the (RMI) and the Federated States of The intention of this arrangement is to Disaster Relief and Reconstruction Micronesia (FSM) since 1963, almost 80 continue to provide a robust program of Program (DMRRP) the International percent took place between December emergency disaster relief similar to, but Organization for Migration (IOM) provides and April. FSM suffers the majority of not identical to the assistance provided by operational support. disasters with the eastern states of Yap FEMA in the past. The USAID program and Chuuk being the most affected. will not be subject to the provisions and On November 4th, 2008 responsibility requirements governing US-based in this issue: within the United States Government disaster assistance. The system is based (USG) for disaster mitigation, relief, and on an in-depth joint assessment of both Tabletop Exercise 2 reconstruction assistance was transferred FEMA and USAID practices and from the U.S. Department of Homeland experience in previous disasters. Pre-positioned Humanitarian Supplies 3 Security/FEMA to the U.S. Agency for The USG through FEMA, has Kapingamarangi Drought 4 International Development (USAID). provided emergency relief following scores of typhoons, wave surges, More..... 5 Contact Info The mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic Email: of the Marshall Islands is to operationally support the United [email protected] States Agency of International Development (USAID) in Phone: FSM +691 320-8795 complying with its federal responsibilities under Compact of RMI +692 247-4705 Free Association signed between the Government’s of FSM and RMI towards disaster mitigation, relief and reconstruction. Steps for USG disaster assistance: According to the Operational Blueprint U.S. disaster assistance will only be available when the following steps have occurred. Photo: State and National government representatives are joined at the table by U.S. 1. Declared National State of Emergency government and international partners to discuss reconstruction during the tabletop exercise in Pohnpei. The President of the affected nation(s) has declared a national state of Typhoon Contingency Planning - Tabletop Exercise emergency. Representatives from central and state In addition, the Exercise familiarized them 2. DAEF funds made available governments, United States Agency for with the Operational Blueprint - a document International Development (USAID), the US which outlines the US disaster assistance Department of Defence, the Federal process in the FSM and the RMI, for which The affected country has made it’s Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), USAID assumed responsibility from FEMA Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund the Small Business Administration (SBA), in November 2008. A presentation on the (DAEF) available to address the disaster the International Organization for Migration Blueprint was conducted by FEMA and by expending either (a) up to 50 percent (IOM), the United Nations and diplomatic other agencies, including U.S. Office of of the current balance or (b) another missions met in Pohnpei, FSM, and Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the amount that the national government(s) Majuro, RMI, in the week starting October SBA, the IOM and UN OCHA provided and U.S. ambassador(s) deem 18 for a major disaster preparedness briefings on their disaster assistance appropriate. exercise. Senior Leaders from the approaches. respective countries participated in the “During the exercise, nearly all the 3. UN request for assistance events, as well as representatives of the objectives were met. Most notably, respective US Embassies. participants felt the Operational Blueprint The national government has requested U.S. Presidential disaster declaration The Operational Blueprint Tabletop assistance through the UN representative process was clearly explained and Exercise was jointly facilitated by the for coordination of disaster and supported by exercise activities. USAID and the FSM and RMI governments humanitarian assistance. Additionally, participants expressed an in Pohnpei and Majuro, respectively. overwhelming desire to conduct an annual Logistical and administrative support was 4. U.S. Ambassador declaration exercise focused on disaster response and provided from the Joint Taskforce for the Operational Blueprint.” stated the Homeland Defence and the IOM. Remarks Once the first 3 steps have been USAID Disaster Assistance Coordinator, from senior US officials were couched in Bart Deemer. completed the US ambassador has, spirits of collaboration and a genuine desire under their authority, declared a disaster to foster open communication through a Moreover, participants of the Tabletop were that will trigger a request for a team approach to disaster management. able to create networks and share contribution usually up to $50,000 from information during the two day Tabletop USAID/OFDA The exercise, the first of its kind, created a Exercises. Funding from the U.S. Pacific hypothetical typhoon scenario aimed at Command (USPACOM) enabled the testing preparedness, response and 5. U.S. Presidential Declaration participation of representatives from all the reconstruction. The scenario included States of the FSM and representatives extensive damage or destruction to private from Ebeye and Auru, in the RMI. The President of the affected nation residences and public infrastructure, determines that additional assistance is inflicted by a Category 3 typhoon, which In his closing remarks in both Pohnpei and needed above the initial national and affected both main population centres, as Majuro, Major General Chavez of international sources. well as, outer islands. USPACOM described disaster The Exercise offered participants an management as a “continuous process of Request will be placed through U.S. Chief opportunity to analyze, plan and coordinate improvement,” and encouraged Tabletop of Mission to FEMA/USAID within 60 response efforts in order to minimize participants to view the exercise as only the days of the event. The request will disaster risk to communities. It also helped beginning, of their disaster management describe the amount and severity of them to assess their state of readiness, efforts. impacts and provide preliminary discuss coordination mechanisms and estimates of types and amounts of identify gaps to be addressed prior to the assistance needed. imminent typhoon season. 2 Disaster Digest MEDICAL Field Hospital: Beds, IV stands, Shelving, Pre-Positioned Trolley, Stethoscopes, Medical Tables Humanitarian WHO Pharmaceutical Supplies Kits: Inter-Agency Health Kits (IEHK)-WHO approved. SHELTER In order to reduce response time Photo: All of the IOM logistics bases are strategically located with proximity to both air and sea ports. in a number of emergency Plastic Tarpaulin Rolls: 4x50 meter sectors IOM has logistics bases in Emergency Field Tents: three strategic locations with pre- 14X6 meter positioned USAID-funded relief Ridge Tents: commodities. The intention is to 14x6 meter reduce the cost and management burdens of delivering frequently and urgently needed WATER & commodities and heavy and SANITATION bulky equipment items during the emergency period. Each of the Collapsible Water Jars: logistic bases has supplies for 20 liter approximately 1,000 Water Bladders: 5,000 Gallon households. 2,000 Gallon 1,000 Gallon Tanks: 2,030 Gallon Photo: Inside one of the three IOM logistics bases. Chlorine Tablets: Solar Reverse Osmosis Units: 200 Gallon per day Reverse Osmosis Desalinization Units: 6,000 Gallon per day Hygiene Kits: Soap, dental kit, Sanitary pads, etc. ENERGY Generators 125kVA/100KW Photo: Reverse osmosis desalinization unit capable of 50 kVA/40KW purifying 6,000 gallons per day. 8 kVA/6.4KW 3 Disaster Digest Photo: Logistics is the biggest challenge in the delivery of Observations: relief supplies to the remote islands of the Western Pacific. 1. Food Security Coconut: on the windward sides of the islands show signs of stress and decreased production, some of the smaller islands in the atoll have lost all coconuts. Banana: Up to 90% of Banana (like the one pictured here) on Touhou and 25-40% on Werua show signs of stress and decreased production. Breadfruit: 75-90% of trees on Touhou and up to 25% on Werua show signs of stress and decreased production. Taro: No visible signs of stress or salt water intrusion in soil. 2. Freshwater Rainwater Catchments: Approximately 40% of catchment tanks (see picture) are not being