Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 2 Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 Saint Lucia: I Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 November 2014 National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) National coordination: National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) Velda Joseph, Director Regional coordination: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Alexcia Cooke & Sandra Amlang Author: M. Luvette Thomas-Louisy Design: Jeicos - Cover page designed based on design from Maria Camila Gracía Ruíz / Content pages designed based on the design from Orlando Isaac Dipp and Santiago Rivera (Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction for Dominican Republic, 2012). This document covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. ECHO UNISDR European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid United Nations Office for Disaster Risk and Civil Protection department Reduction Regional office for the Caribbean Regional office for the Americas Santo Domingo, República Dominicana Ciudad del Saber (Clayton), Panamá Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.eird.org/ URL: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/ http://www.unisdr.org/americas http://www.dipecholac.net/ II Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 Disaster Risk Reduction Terminology The terminology used for the preparation of this document is that used by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) or terminology established in the national legal framework. A Glossary comprising the definition of these terms is provided in Appendix 1. The aim is to promote understanding and use of common disaster risk reduction (DRR) concepts, as well as support DRR efforts undertaken by the government, experts and the public. A Disaster is: A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society, causing widespread human, material, economic and environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. (Source: UNISDR) Disaster = Hazard Exposure x Vulnerability Disaster Risk Reduction = Reduced hazard exposure and lessened vulnerability Photo Credit: Hurricane Tomas After Action Report (2011) Saint Lucia: III Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 IV Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 Table of contents CHAPTER 1: SUMMARY FOR POLICY MAKERS CHAPTER 2: INTRODUCTION 2.1 Background ................................................................................ 15 2.2 Purpose of the Country Profile Document .................................................... 15 2.3 Conceptual Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) .................................... 16 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Process ..................................................................................... 19 3.2 Assumptions and Limitations ............................................................... 22 CHAPTER 4: INTERNATIONAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CONTEXT FOR DRR 4.1 International DRR Context .................................................................. 25 4.2 Regional Context for DRR ................................................................... 26 4.3 National DRR Context ....................................................................... 27 CHAPTER 5: NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES 5.1 Physical Environment ....................................................................... 31 5.1.1 Geographic location ................................................................... 31 5.1.2 Physiography .......................................................................... 31 5.1.3 Climate and Weather .................................................................. 33 5.1.4 Climate Change ....................................................................... 35 5.1.5 Biodiversity. 35 5.2 Socio-Economic Context .................................................................... 36 5.2.1 Population and demographics ......................................................... 36 5.2.2 Socio-Economic Status ................................................................. 37 5.2.3 Human Development (Poverty and unemployment, Education) ......................... 38 5.2.4 Gender, youth and children ............................................................ 40 5.3 Governance Structure ....................................................................... 40 5.3.1 Political structure and organisation .................................................... 40 5.3.2 Local government and levels of decentralisation ........................................ 41 5.3.3 Coordination mechanisms between State and non-governmental actors ................ 42 5.4 Development Context ...................................................................... 42 5.4.1 National development priorities ....................................................... 42 5.4.2 Financial analysis of public investment in DRR .......................................... 43 5.4.3 Knowledge and information ........................................................... 44 Country Document on V Disaster Risk Reduction for Grenada, 2014 CHAPTER 6: DRR LEGAL, REGULATORY AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 6.1 Legal Framework ........................................................................... 47 6.1.1 National and provincial constitution ................................................... 47 6.1.2 Laws and legal binding provisions ...................................................... 47 6.2 Normative Framework. 48 6.2.1 Normative instruments for DRR ........................................................ 48 6.2.2 Public policy ........................................................................... 49 6.3 Institutional Framework .................................................................... 49 6.3.1 National institutional structure of DRR ................................................ 50 6.3.2 Multisectoral platform for DRR. 52 6.3.3 Local networking groups drivers and risk management ................................ 52 6.3.4 Budgetary resources for the development of disaster risk reduction activities. 53 6.4 National Development Plan in Relation to DRR ............................................... 53 6.4.1 DRR and DRM national plan. 54 6.5 Reflections on the Legal, Regulatory, Institutional and Management Capacity ................. 54 CHAPTER 7: STATE OF DISASTER RISK IN SAINT LUCIA 7.1 Conditions of Risk in Country ................................................................ 57 7.2 Historical Disaster Analysis ................................................................. 57 7.3 Hazards /Threats ........................................................................... 59 7.3.1 Naturally occurring. 59 7.3.1.1 Type geodynamic/geo hazard .................................................. 59 7.3.1.2 Type hydro-meteorological .................................................... 60 7.3.2 Anthropogenic/human-induced ...................................................... 61 7.3.2.1 Type socio-natural hazards .................................................... 61 7.3.2.2 Type technological hazards .................................................... 61 7.3.3 Health emergency hazards ............................................................ 61 7.3.4 Links to climate change. 61 7.4 Vulnerability ................................................................................ 62 7.4.1 Definition of the analysis criteria and methodology ................................... 62 7.4.2 Components of vulnerability .......................................................... 63 7.4.3 Analysis of vulnerability: fragility, exposure, resilience .................................. 64 7.4.3.1 Vulnerable Sectors ............................................................. 65 7.4.3.2 Vulnerable area/regions ....................................................... 65 7.4.3.3 Vulnerable groups ............................................................. 66 7.5 Capacity Building ........................................................................... 67 7.5.1 Mapping institutions and levels of coordination ....................................... 69 7.5.2 Mapping programs, initiatives and plans for DRR ...................................... 70 7.5.3 Inventory of tools. 72 7.6 Reduction of Underlying Risk Factors ........................................................ 73 VI Saint Lucia: Country Document for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2014 CHAPTER 8: RISK ASSESSMENT FOR COUNTRY DRR 8.1 Defining Criteria and Analysis Methodology ................................................. 77 8.2 Definition of Risk Scenarios ................................................................. 78 8.3 Prioritization of Risk Scenarios and Areas of Intervention ..................................... 79 CHAPTER 9: STRATEGIC GUIDELINES FOR COUNTRY DRR 9.1 Strategic Directions for Country DRR ........................................................ 85 CHAPTER 10: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 10.1 Conclusions ...............................................................................