Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction Across the Americas

1. Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction Across the Americas Regional, Specialized and National Centers for Local Response Shawn A. Boyce Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology DRR Summit September 3-8 Buenos Aires, Argentina

2. Background • Why Disaster Risk Reduction? • Impact assessments performed throughout the Caribbean for climate related disasters collated losses totaling more than USD 25 billion for the period 1972 – 2010 • The IADB reported in 2006 that during the previous three decades, the Caribbean has suffered total losses estimated to be between USD 700 million and 3.3 billion • The World Bank noted that for the period 1979-2005, aggregate economic losses due to storms ranged between USD 63 million and 16.6 billion

3. Background…cont’d • Why Disaster Risk Reduction? • Hurricane Ivan in 2004 inflicted losses of over 200% of Grenada's 2003 per capita GDP of USD 5,800. • Hurricane Tomas in 2010 produced USD 336.2 million (43% of GDP) in damage on Saint Lucia • The December 24, 2013 severe weather event produced USD 108 million (15% of GDP) in damage on St. Vincent • Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 produced USD 483 million (90 percent of GDP) in losses on Dominica

4. Background…cont’d • Regional Context – CDM Strategy: • Identifies the management of disaster risk as a development issue • Embraces a strategic approach to integrating disaster management into development planning and decision making • Provides a regional roadmap for the implementation of the Sendai Framework • "Safer, more resilient and sustainable CDEMA Participating States through Comprehensive Disaster Management".

5. Background…cont’d “The CIMH contributes to the achievement of CDEMA’s CDM strategy through the provision of specialized advice, services and products related to hydro-meteorological hazards”

6. Background…cont’d About CDEMA – Key Objectives

7. Background…cont’d About CDEMA – Key Objectives…cont’d

8. Background…cont’d About CIMH – Key Functions

9. Background…cont’d About CIMH – Key Functions…cont’d

10. Impact-based Forecasting • CIMH/CDEMA Partnership • The partnership contributes to three of the CDM strategy priority outcome areas. • Strengthened institutional arrangements at the national and regional level • Information, knowledge management and learning • Mainstreaming of disaster risk management at the sectoral level • The partnership also supports priority area one of the Sendai Framework • Improving the understanding of disaster risks in part through the promotion of the provision of real-time access to data in addition to the use of ICT systems to enhance data management and decision making

11. Impact-based Forecasting…cont’d Hazard Data Social Data Exposure Data DEWETRA Provides a sustainable, cost-effective, easy to use platform that supports data fusion, real-time access to data and specialized human capacity and supports multiple stakeholder engagement and interaction Decision Making Support

12. Impacts-based Forecasting…cont’d Weather Prediction

13. Impacts-based Forecasting…cont’d Significant Wave Height Prediction

14. Impacts-based Forecasting Tool…cont’d Near Real-time Observations - Rainfall

15. Impacts-based Forecasting Tool…cont’d Near Real-time Observations – Water Level

16. Impacts-based Forecasting…cont’d Satellite-derived Observations – GPM IMERG

17. Impacts-based Forecasting…cont’d Pre-Impact Analysis

18. Impact Assessment Study Area Before Event Post-Impact Assessment AfterEvent Flooded Area

19. Regional Response • The Regional Response Mechanism: an arrangement for the coordination of disaster response among CDEMA Participating States, and Regional and International Agencies • Initiates the deployment of the Regional Search and Rescue Team, CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), Rapid Needs Assessment Team (RNAT), CARICOM Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (CDAC) and CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) • The COST was developed to provide immediate support (24 – 36 hrs) to National Emergency Operation Centres and to assist with national level disaster related coordination • The timing and other logistics of the deployment are usuallyguided by the impacts forecasts produced by the CIMH

20. Summary • To reduce losses, regional economies need to become more climate and weather resilient • The CDM Strategy embraces a strategic approach to integrating disaster management into development planning and decision making and provides a regional road map for implementation of the Sendai Framework • The CIMH/CDEMA partnership seeks to improve the understanding of disaster risks in part through the promotion of the provision of real-time access to data in addition to the use of ICT systems to enhance data management and decision making • The Regional Response Mechanism facilitates the deployment of multiple teams in the event of major disasters

21. Thank You Shawn A. Boyce Chief Hydrologist (Ag.) Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology Email: sboyce@cimh.edu.bb Web: www.cimh.edu.bb Facebook: www.facebook.com/CIMHbb Twitter: @CIMHbb YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/CIMHTV