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The
Cayman Islands comprise three islands in the Western Caribbean.
Grand Cayman is the largest and most populous, Little Cayman
and Cayman Brac are far smaller. The islands are mainly at risk
of hurricanes and earthquakes, both of which occurred recently.
In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan pounded Grand Cayman. A national
disaster was declared, two people were killed, virtually the
entire population was directly affected and a large number of
buildings were severely damaged. The total amount of damage
and losses is estimated at around 183 % of gross domestic product.
Ivan was particularly devastating because it moved slowly over
the flat and therefore highly exposed land. Storm surges flooded
large sections of the coast. Other recent hurricanes which have
impacted the island, be it much less than Ivan, were Michelle
in 2001, Gilbert in 1988 and Katrina in 1981.
Only three months after Hurricane Ivan, an earthquake measuring
6.7 on the Richter scale hit Grand Cayman on the 14th of December
2004. It was reported to be the strongest earthquake since 1900.
Further tremors have occurred since then, with a quake registering
4.4 on the 20th of December 2004. No major damage occurred in
either of the quakes.
The main organisation responsible for hurricane preparedness
is the National Hurricane Committee. There are currently 12
committees to the National Hurricane Committee on Grand Cayman
and a District Emergency Committee which directs four committees
on the Sister Islands. The National Hurricane Committee is made
up of senior civil servants. Civil servants and members of the
community are represented in the committees to the National
Hurricane Committee.
Since Hurricane Ivan, the Cayman Islands Government has been
very much engaged in developing its capacity for disaster reduction.
A UNDP/ECLAC program on vulnerability and damage assessment
has been started up in April 2005. The chief technical adviser
for this program is Franklin J.
McDonald. Some targets related to the programme are hazard maps
for storm surges and flooding, an updated building code, a National
Disaster Management and Recovery Plan, an updated shelter policy
and the creation of a district level system for preparedness,
response and recovery. Seismographs are being installed on all
three of the islands.
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