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Barbados,
the easternmost Caribbean island, is a small and relatively
flat coral and limestone island. It is brushed by tropical storms,
hurricanes and tropical depressions frequently. Most recently,
hurricane Lili damaged over 300 houses in September 2002 and
Ivan killed one person and damaged over 300 buildings in September
2004. The most devastating hurricane of the past century was
Janet in 1955, which killed 35 people, destroyed more than 8000
homes and left around 20,000 people homeless.
Other natural hazards to threaten Barbados are flooding,
landslides, drought and soil erosion. The active submarine
volcano Kick 'em Jenny, located at 260 km southwest of the
island, poses a threat of tsunamis.
The national body for multi-sectoral coordination is the
Central Emergency Relief Organisation (CERO). It is made up
of a National Disaster Committee, an Emergency Operations
Centre, Emergency Management Teams, government ministries
and departments, NGOs, Sectoral Standing Committees and District
Emergency Organisations. As the national coordinating institution,
it is responsible for activating the national disaster plan.
The National Disaster Committee is responsible for risk analysis
as well as prevention, preparedness and response plans. The
country is divided into 30 political constituencies, each
of which has a District Emergency Organisation. These are
run by volunteers who provide education and training and develop
plans for initial emergency response.
The establishment of the Barbados Emergency Management Agency
(BEMA) is underway in 2005. It will become a legal authority
as laid out in the Disaster Management Act.
The Caribbean Uniform Building Code is currently used as
the national model. A specific national code is being designed
and a Barbados Building Authority is being set up in order
to monitor and enforce the code.
Some hazard mapping has been conducted, yet updating remains
a challenge. Vulnerability and capacity assessments have been
done for shelters, police stations, fire stations and hospitals.
As for early warning, the meteorology office serves as a weather
systems monitor and flood gauges have been established in
areas at risk.
The Barbados Government
Information Service facilitates the public awareness programme
on national disaster management. Other public awareness initiatives
are being undertaken by mass media institutions as well as
schools. Disaster education programs exist at primary and
secondary level, regularly aided by presentations from disaster
agencies. In community disaster programs, local folklore,
storytelling, poetry, drama and traditional calypsos are being
used to inform the local public. Also, disaster exercises
are regularly undertaken, including the annual TRADEWINDS
exercise and the biannual FA HUM exercises.
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