EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN DOMINICA

1. EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN DOMINICA Nathanael Isaac National Disaster Coordinator Office of Disaster Management Commonwealth of Dominica

4. Hazards…… • Tropical Cyclones

5. Storm surge Omar 2008

6. landslides May 24th 2010. Three lives were lost

7. flash floods Dean ;August 17th 2007.

8. Seismic damage November 21st 2004.

9. Barbados Met. Service Dominica Met. Service Government Officials PUBLIC WARNINGS • Meteorological/hydrological hazards Office of Disaster Management Media/GIS

10. Warnings….. • Seismic/Tsunami Hazards Seismic Research Centre Office of Disaster Management Media/GIS Government Officials Stakeholders Public

11. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT in THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA Driven by NATIONAL DISASTER PLAN (2001) Prepared By: THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY PLANNING ORGANISATION (NEPO)

12. The National Emergency planning Organization (NEPO) • NEPO comprises: • Ministers of Government • Permanent Secretaries • Heads of Government Departments • Representatives from the private sector. • NEPO is mandated to meet twice a year (Reports are presented by various sub-committees) • One of its compulsory meetings must be held prior to the hurricane season.

13. Nepo meeting • Prime Minister; Roosevelt Skerrit and Executive Head of NEPO listens to deliberations on the H1N1 Crisis. • NEOC H1N1 lead by Ministry of Health.

14. Sub-Committees • Public Relations and Education • Health • Telecommunication • Communication • Shelter • Welfare • Food & General Supplies • Transportation • Public Utilities

15. Lead agencies • Hydro-meteorological – Senior Meteorological Officer (National Meteorological Service) • Seismic – Seismic Research Centre ( UWI); Office of Disaster Management • Major accident –Chief of Police • Major accident Air/Sea- Manager of DASPA • Major Fire- Chief Fire Officer/Director of forestry • Health- Chief Medical Officer

16. LIST OF SOP’s • REGISTER OF SOP’s • SOP 1 - Concept of Disaster Operations • SOP 2 - Organization of the NEOC • SOP 3 - NEOC Staffing and Job Descriptions • SOP 4 - NEOC Location and Layout • SOP 5 - NEOC Resources • SOP 6 - NEOC Communications • SOP 7 - Warning and Alerting Systems • SOP 8 - Activating the NEOC • SOP 9 - NEOC Setup • SOP 10 NEOC Security

17. SOP’s Cont’d • SOP 11 - Shift System in the NEOC • SOP 12 - NEOC Deactivation • SOP 13 - Message Control • SOP 14 - Reporting • SOP 15 - Situation Reports (SITREPS) • SOP 16 - Damage Assessment • SOP 17 - NEOC Displays • SOP 18 - Briefings and Conferences • SOP 19 - Stress Management • SOP 20 - Managing Public Information • SOP 21 - Rumor Control • SOP 22 - Disaster Management vs Programmed management. • SOP 23 - Common mistakes in NEOC management

18. Stakeholders training

19. NEOC MODEL

20. community training • Each community is encouraged to have a community based disaster management committee. • That CBDC should be based as much as possible on the national model

22. Challenges • Methods of communication/ backup systems • Total dependence on information coming from overseas. • The possibility of not having a forecaster in the NEOC • The absence of legislation.

23. Challenges……. • The size and topography of the island • The intensity of showers • Communication • Location of residents

24. THANK YOU!!!!