PALAU Disaster Management Reference Handbook January 2020 Acknowledgements CFE-DM would like to thank the following organizations for their support in reviewing and providing feedback to this document: Tiare Eastmond, USAID/OFDA Meiapo Faasau, IFRC Country Cluster Support Team, Pacific Chris Foley, USAID/OFDA Mairegn Sengebau, Palau Red Cross Aleyda Valdes, UNDP, Palau Cover and section photo credits Cover Photo: Palau Aerial View. By LuxTonnerre Creative Commons. March 15, 2008. https://flickr.com/photos/luxtonnerre/2346935699/in/album-72157604176421959/ Country Overview Section: Badrulchau is the largest megalithic site in Palau. These stones are believed to be the pillars of the largest meeting house (bai) built. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. https://www.flickr.com/photos/58634261@N00/11723262095 Disaster Overview Section Photo: World War III ruins in Babelthuap Island, Palau February 23 2012 Photo: Erin Magee/DFAT https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=AB60893B4DECE89A7B8FB98AEFDBD9C0496DD943&thid= Organizational Structure for Disaster Management Photo: Melekeok Capital Palau. By LuxTonnere Creative Commons. March 17, 2008 https://flickr.com/photos/luxtonnerre/2347010593/in/photolist-4zp3tT-JuVUY9-Kro9vp-Kjw29x-8kwiqZ- Infrastructure Section Photo: Koror Palau 2008030818_5584 by LuxTonnerre Creative Commons. March 9, 2008. High Res: https://flickr.com/photos/luxtonnerre/2347797610/in/album-72157604176867107/ Health Section Photo: Angaur, Palau, Lt. Cmdr. Ryan Bartles, part of the Civic Action Team (CAT) Palau examines a patient during monthly visits to provide medical advise and treatment to the citizens of Angaur. Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Jasen Moreno Garcia https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5614629/civic-action-team-visits-peleliu-and-angaur Women, Peace, and Security Section Photo: Palau Women’s Conference 2013. By UN Women, Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, 27 August 2013 https://www.flickr.com/photos/un_women_pacific/14216883894/in/album-72157644322909079/ Conclusion Section Photo: Koror, Palau’s 25th annual boat race at the Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge, 29 September, 2019 by Lance Cpl Haley McMenamin. https://www.dvidshub.net/image/5804223/1st-marine-division-attends-palaus-independence-day-boat-race Appendices Section Photo: Milky Way Palau 2008030818_5679 by LuxTonnerre Creative Commons. March 15, 2008. High Res: https://flickr.com/photos/luxtonnerre/2347779000/in/album-72157604176421959/ ISBN 978-1-955429-17-7 2 Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance Table of Contents Welcome - Note from the Director ...........................................................................................................9 About the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance ...10 Disaster Management Reference Handbook Series Overview ...................................................11 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................12 Country Overview .....................................................................................................................................14 Culture .......................................................................................................................................................15 Demographics .........................................................................................................................................16 Ethnic Makeup .................................................................................................................................16 Key Population Centers ................................................................................................................17 Language ...........................................................................................................................................17 Religion ..............................................................................................................................................17 Vulnerable Groups .........................................................................................................................17 Economics ................................................................................................................................................18 Government .............................................................................................................................................20 Environment ............................................................................................................................................21 Geography ........................................................................................................................................23 Borders ...............................................................................................................................................23 Climate ...............................................................................................................................................23 Disaster Overview ....................................................................................................................................26 Disaster Management Challenges ...................................................................................................26 Recent History of Natural Disasters .................................................................................................27 Country Risks ...........................................................................................................................................29 Country Risks Profile ......................................................................................................................29 Palau Disaster Management Reference Handbook | January 2020 3 Country Risk Profile ...........................................................................................................................9 Organizational Structure for Disaster Management ..................................................32 Lead Government Agencies in Disaster Response ....................................................................32 Key Disaster Management Partners ................................................................................................34 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ..............................34 U.S. Government Agencies in Palau ................................................................................................36 Participation in International Organizations ................................................................................37 Foreign Disaster Relief and Emergency Response .....................................................................38 Laws, Policies, and Plans on Disaster Management ..................................................................38 Education and Training ........................................................................................................................40 Disaster Management Communications.......................................................................................41 Early Warning Systems ..................................................................................................................41 Responsible Agencies for Warnings .........................................................................................41 Armed Forces’ Role in Disaster Response ...............................................................................42 Information Sharing ......................................................................................................................42 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................46 Airports ......................................................................................................................................................46 Seaports ....................................................................................................................................................46 Land Routes .............................................................................................................................................46 Roads ...................................................................................................................................................46 Bridges ................................................................................................................................................47 Railways ..............................................................................................................................................48 Waterways ................................................................................................................................................48 Schools ......................................................................................................................................................48 Disaster Risk Reduction in the Education Sector ................................................................48 Communications ....................................................................................................................................49 Utilities .......................................................................................................................................................49