Anguilla,
the northernmost of the Leeward Islands, is situated in an area
of the Caribbean which is susceptible to hurricanes. Consisting
of coral and limestone, the island lies very low with its highest
point at only 65 m. Hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes
and flooding are the most serious hazards, and several areas
of the coast are at risk of coastal erosion and landslides.
After hurricane Donna hit in 1960, there has been an increase
in concrete housing. Hurricanes which affected the island more
recently were Luis and Marilyn in 1995 and Lenny in 1999. These
resulted in flooding and landslides on coastal slopes.
National preparedness policy is carried out by the Disaster
Preparedness Committee. This committee is chaired by the Governor
and has several subcommittees. The Anguilla Red Cross is one
of its members. A National Disaster Preparedness Coordinator
oversees the coordination and cooperation between the various
national actors.
National hurricane and oil spill plans were devised in the late
1990s and are currently being revised. In recent initiatives
to boost the country's disaster reduction policy, the Ministry
of Social Development has been working with the Pan-American
Health Organisation on the development of a mass casualty management
system since October 2004. Also, a Disaster Management Adviser
for the United Kingdom's Department for International Development
started a one-year posting in May 2005 to offer support and
technical assistance to implement Anguilla's Comprehensive Disaster
Management Strategy which was recently approved by the Executive
Council. This strategy aims at strengthening the National Disaster
Office as well as integrating disaster management into national
development planning.
