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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
May 31 - June 6, 2014
THE MINISTRY OF GOVERN THE DEPARTMENT OF DISASTER M
SOUTH BASE, GRAND TURK, TELEPHONE #649 946 2177 FAX 649 946 1230 OR 1416 CUSTOMS COMPLEX, LEEWARD HIGHWAY, PROVIDE
Hurricane Preparedne Message from
Message from The Honorable Dr. Rufus Ewing Premier Turks and Caicos Islands
The Hon. Anya Williams Deputy Governor Turks and Caicos Islands
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s you know June 1st marks the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Whilst disasters may strike at any given day and in many different forms, as a Caribbean island we are most vulnerable to the threat of hurricanes and whilst this is predicted to be a fairly quiet season with few named storms, let us not become complacent as it only takes one storm! Having had the experience of both Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike in 2008, it was most telling the devastating effect that a hurricane can have on our Beautiful by Nature islands. It is to this end that I am asking all civil servants and people across the Turks and Caicos Islands to be prepared this hurricane season.
The Department of Disaster Management will be observing Hurricane Preparedness Month during the month of June under the theme “My Community is Getting Ready” and have planned a series of events to help communities across the Turks and Caicos do just that, beginning first with a church service on June 1 and leading into various State of Preparedness Meetings with both government and private sector stakeholders; there is also a series of training programs being held and various island wide clean up campaigns; these island wide campaigns are very important not only in ensuring from a disaster perspective that all derelict and hazardous materials are removed, but assist in tidying and beautifying our islands.
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During this hurricane season I urge you to be prepared, support the Department of Disaster Management in the various activities they have planned this Hurricane Preparedness Month and all God’s blessings to you and your families for a safe Hurricane Season.
Message from Dr. Virginia Clerveaux Director Disaster Management and Emergencies
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une 1st will mark the beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and the launch of Hurricane Preparedness Month Campaign in the Turks and Caicos Islands. To mark this event this year the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) has selected the theme ‘My Community is getting ready… are you? emphasizing prioritization of the need to build safe and resilient communities through enhancement of the capacities of local communities. Safe and resilient communities have the following key characteristics: • Understanding of the disaster risks that they face and the capacity to assess and monitor these risks so as to make themselves safe and minimize losses and damage when a disaster strikes. • Ability to perform basic preparedness, emergency response and recovery functions on their own and can sustain basic community functions and structures despite the impact of disasters. • Capacity to ‘bounce back ‘from the impact of a hazard and
constantly strive towards the reduction of future vulnerabilities and ensuring that vulnerabilities continue to be reduced for the future. • Recognition that the building of safety and resilience is a longterm, continuous process that requires ongoing commitment. In the face of imprecise predictions such as the effects of climate change, or the degree of urban growth and environmental degradation, there is appreciation of local capacity to adapt to future problems and challenges by building on their current knowledge. • Appreciation that being safe and disaster resilient means that there is a greater chance of meeting development goals which, in themselves, will greatly add to safety and resilience. The TCI like many other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) within the Caribbean region, is heavily dependent on tourism as the main income generator. Tourism resources and related assets and activities are coastally orientated and as such, are extremely exposed and vulnerable to the ravages of climatic hazards. Let us be reminded that the effect of hurricane impact
on tourism is not confined to related infrastructure and assets, but will cascade throughout the entire economy and every aspect of our livelihood. Let us not forget the devastating impact on our economy, society and environment as a result of the passage of Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike in 2008 which resulted in total impact representing 25.8% of GDP, 96.2% of tourism GDP, which is quite significant, 54.4% of gross domestic investment, 35% of consumption and 350.6% of public debt. The total impact of Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike on the Turks and Caicos Islands was estimated at 213.6M and from which we continue to recover. Let us understand that the level of impact to our well-being from events such as Hanna and Ike is inversely related to our level of preparedness and the extent to which our resilience capacity has been established. The more
s many of you may know, International Disaster mitigation offices around the world define a disaster as a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, destruction and devastation to life and property. Sometimes the damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies with the geographical location and climate. Typically, disasters influence the mental, socio economic, political and cultural posture of the affected area and generally carries with it the following effects: including but not limited to disrupting normal day to day life, negatively influencing the emergency systems and drastically affecting basic needs and processes like food, shelter, provision of health care depending on the intensity and severity of the disaster. We must continue to brace
prepared we are and the more we invest in building resilience, the less will be the impact we suffer and better able we will be to bounce back following impact. In continuing efforts to enhance the status of our preparedness and build requisite resilience capacity, the DDME in collaboration with its partners have recently implemented a number of measures to strengthen our disaster risk reduction capacity. Such measures include: • Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (VCA) in Grand Turk and Providenciales and plan to do similar in Salt Cay soon through the TCI Red Cross Disaster Risk Reduction Project. • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training in Providenciales, Grand Turk and South Caicos which consisted of First Aid, Basic Fire Suppression, • Urban Search and Rescue training • Communities United in Response to Emergency (CURE) Volunteer drive Additionally, the DDME through support from its various Partners have trained over 100 persons in disaster risk reduction techniques, initiated upgrade of our emergency communication equipment, hosted public education campaigns to promote awareness in disaster management, drafted or reviewed 6 national/sectoral plans, provided overseas prioritized training for
ourselves and ensure that we are fully equipped and prepared in the event of an emergency by actively participating in the number of activities that has been planned by Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies. My Government remains cognizant of these realities and continues to respond to the challenges associated with securing the safety and security of citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islanders. May God Bless You and these our Beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands.
DDME staff, conducted several table-top and functional exercises, conducted media interviews via radio and television, developed Public Service Announcements (PSAs) and produced public education materials in the form of newsletters, brochures, posters etc. In that regard I want to assure you that the commitment of the DDME and our supporting partners to building resilient communities in the TCI continues to be unwavering. Fellow residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands let us reiterate our acknowledgement that preparation for emergencies is not only a continuous process but it is everybody’s business. While the approaching Hurricane Season tends to dominate our preparedness discussions at this time, let us endeavour to be prepared at all times and for all the real and potential threats that we face. Investment in emergency preparedness is not just the prerogative of government, but each of us must make our personal investment in our continued effort to build a disaster resilient society. Let me take this opportunity to commend the staff of DDME who has worked tirelessly in promoting Hurricane Preparedness Month national campaign and the many other preparedness activities undertaken. May you have a safe Hurricane Season.