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The
Turks and Caicos Islands are made up of 40 islands, 8 of which
are inhabited. As they are relatively low lying, with its highest
point Blue Hills at only 49 m, they are very vulnerable to hurricanes
and floodings.
The most damaging hurricane of the last century occurred in
1908 and killed around 20 people. More recently, hurricane Kate
in 1985 and tropical storm Erin in 1995 caused wind damage and
flooding. In 2004, hurricane Frances caused only minimal damage
with hundreds of islanders fleeing to higher ground. This recent
hurricane, however, clearly showed the need for greater public
awareness on risk reduction and personal safety. The authorities
and police had great difficulty convincing residents to move
to shelters.
The local authority
responsible for disaster reduction is the National Disaster
Committee, which operates according to the National Disaster
Management Plan. The committee is currently involved in education
and training through simulation exercises, public awareness,
procurement of equipment and supplies and data collection
and needs assessment. Hazard mapping is yet to be undertaken
on a larger scale and the first vulnerability assessment is
currently being initiated.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands is an overseas territory of
the United Kingdom, the local authority responsible for disaster
reduction is a part of the Network of Emergency Managers in
the Overseas Territories (NEMOT), which was established in
2000, and of the Whitehall Disaster Coordination Group for
the Overseas Territories. Thus, the Disaster Management Centre
in the British Virgin Islands has served as a model for the
Turks and Caicos Islands. A Disaster Coordination and Management
Adviser for the Overseas Territories has recently ended a
one-year post in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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