Western Cape Disaster Management Centre
Disaster management centre achieves 24/7 operating capacity
The Western Cape DMC is situated at Tygerberg Hospital in Parow, Cape Town
D
isaster operations and disaster risk reduction are two directorates that make up the operations of the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, which is a chief directorate under the Department of Local Government.
chief directorate. The other functions include preparing for and responding to disasters and coordinating disaster recovery, as well as coordinating a provincial fire brigade function and to capacitate municipalities.
Establishing and maintaining institutional disaster management capacity and implementing effective disaster risk reduction activities count among the functions of the office of the
Chief director of the disaster management and fire brigade services, Western Cape Government, Colin Deiner, says, “We are now a provincial centre with a 24/7 capacity. Our job is to assist district
municipalities, assist the Metro and assist Government departments.” The 24-hour capacity of the PDMC is enabled in cooperation with the Department of Health- Emergency Medical Services (EMS), which ensures that a 24-hour standby process is in place for managing disasters. The disaster operations directorate within the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre is responsible for and responds to disasters and coordinates disaster recovery efforts that relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The disaster risk reduction directorate’s responsibilities are to facilitate and coordinate the reduction of potential risks posed by hazards. “We have taken the disaster management framework and developed a structure around that”, mentions Deiner.
Helen Zille and Colin Deiner during her visit to the PDMC 20
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Disaster Management
Western Cape Disaster Management Chief directorate consists of: • Chief director • Deputy director • Assistant Director • Administrative coordinator • Registry clerk • Personal assistant Volume 1
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