Cayman Islands
From HFA-PEDIA
Contents |
HFA National Reports
National Report 2008: National Progress Report 2008
National Report 2007: National Report on the Implementation of the HFA (2007) - Cayman Islands
National Report 2006: Cayman Islands Report 2005 (Updated version Feb.4, 2006)
National Report 2005: not reported
National Platform:
No National Platform reported
HFA National Focal Point:
Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) (previously National Emergency and Hazard Management Agency (NEMA)
2nd Floor Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, George Town, Grand Cayman
Address: P.O Box 10345, Airport Post Office, George Town, Grand Cayman
Contact person:
McCleary Frederick, Director (as of April 2009)
Tel:(+1-345) 244-3141 / Fax: (+1345) 945-5020
E-mail: mccleary.frederick@gov.ky
Alternative contact:
Simon Boxall, Public Relations / Communications Officer
Hazard Management Cayman Islands
Tel: +1(345) 945-4624 (office), (345) 244-3145(direct); fax: 345-946-5020
E-mail: Simon.Boxall@gov.ky
Other contacts:
Cayman Islands Government, Cabinet Office
Contact Person: Ms Christina Rowlandson, policy analyst
Phone: (+1-345) 244-2208/2201 / fax: (+1-345) 946-1652;
E-mail: christina.rowlandson@gov.ky
National Hurricane Committee
Contact Person: Mr Donovan Ebanks, Chairman
Address: Deputy Chief Secretary’s Office, Government Administration Building, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Phone: (+1-345) 949-7900/244-2222
E-mail: Donovan.Ebanks@gov.ky
Cayman Islands Fire Department
Contact person: Mr Kirkland H. Nixon, Deputy Chair, National Hurricane Committee And Chief Fire Officer, Cayman Islands Fire Department
Address: Airport Road,PO Box 1804, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Phone: (+1-345) 949-2276/7513 / fax: (+1-345) 949-0268
E-mail: Kirkland.Nixon@gov.ky
Emergency Management Agency
Contact person: Mr McCleary Frederick, Deputy Director
Address: Emergency Operations Centre, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands,
Phone: (+345) 916-4236
E-mail: McCleary.Frederick@gov.ky
Country profile
Official name: Cayman Islands
Capital: George Town
Population: 44,270 (July 2005)
Density: 169 inhab/ sq Km
Total area: 264 sq km
Coastline: 160 km
Languages: English
Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Ethnic Groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Government: Overseas territory of the UK, British crown colony.
Currency: Caymanian dollar
The territory is a major offshore financial centre in the Caribbean.
The Cayman Islands comprise three islands in the Western Caribbean: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman located in the Northwest Caribbean Sea approximately 150 miles south of Cuba and 167 miles northwest of Jamaica. 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.
Together the Islands have a total land area of approximately 100 square miles. The Islands are low lying with the highest point being 140 feet above sea level on Cayman Brac. The main Island of Grand Cayman is home to the capital George Town and has a maximum elevation of approximately 60 feet above sea level.
The islands are a British Overseas Territory with a population of approximately 53,000 people, of which approximately 95% reside on Grand Cayman. The economy is largely services based with a strong focus on Tourism and Financial Services.
Due to their geographic location, the Cayman Islands are susceptible to the catastrophic risks of earthquakes and hurricanes.
Earthquake Risks
The Cayman Islands lie near a fault zone where the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates meet. This transform zone is known to generate earthquakes which have occasionally affected the Cayman Islands and the potential for catastrophic earthquakes exists.
In recent history, the strongest earthquake occurred on 14 December 2004 when a magnitude 6.8 quake centered just 20 miles southwest of Grand Cayman shook the Islands. Fortunately this strong quake caused only very minor damage, but it did highlight the potential for the Islands to be severely affected by earthquakes. This potentially catastrophic event came just three short months after the Islands had been ravaged by Hurricane Ivan.
Hurricane Risks
The Northwestern Caribbean where the Cayman Islands are located is exposed to hurricanes and the Cayman Islands have been described by some as lying in “hurricane alley” given the high frequency with which storms have passed through the Cayman area. According to data compiled by the United States of America’s, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Coastal Services Center, the Cayman Islands have had many major hurricanes (category 3 or higher) pass within 100 miles during the past 30 years.
Over the past 30 years, the Cayman Islands have undergone rapid economic growth along with much development and construction of the country’s built infrastructure such as tourism, commercial, government and residential buildings; road networks; water and sewerage infrastructure; ports and airports. These rapid developments along with the particular geography of the Islands have combined to put the Cayman Islands at great potential financial risk should they receive a direct hit from a major hurricane. On September 12, 2004 the Cayman Islands and in particular the main island of Grand Cayman was hit by Hurricane Ivan, a Category 4 hurricane which caused widespread damage on a scale that had not been experienced by the Islands in modern history. Hurricane Ivan resulted in two deaths and created losses estimated at US$3.4 billion4 or 183% of GDP for the Cayman Islands.
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.
Hurricane Ivan impacted every aspect of life in the Cayman Islands and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) team reported that the dollar amount of damage was the highest ever encountered by ECLAC. CIG’s financial position deteriorated significantly, with the Government’s forecast operating position moving from a small surplus of $0.5 million to an operating deficit of $36.7 million,6 the largest deficit in the country’s history.
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, [http://www.gov.ky/ 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.
During the 2007 policy year the Cayman Islands was affected by Hurricane Dean as it passed 168km south of the Islands on the 19 and 20th of August 2007.
In addition to its insurance programme, the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) established a National Disaster Fund (NDF) on the 4 November 1999 for the purpose of providing the Government with the financial resources necessary to fund emergency response and recovery efforts following a major disaster. The NDF is funded through specific annual allocations in CIG’s annual budget process.
Source: CCRIF 2009 and UNISRD The Americas
Urban indicators
| Indicator | 2030 |
| Total population (thousands) | 57 |
| Population in urban (thousands) | 57 |
| Population in slums (thousands) | N/A |
| Population in urban areas (% of total population) | 100 |
| Population in slums (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Annual urban population growth rate (%) | N/A |
| Annual slum population growth rate (%) | N/A |
| Population with access to improved sanitation (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population with access to improved water (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population with sufficient living area (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population with durable structures (% of urban population) | N/A |
| Population in rural (thousands) | N/A |
- Source: UN-Habitat - The data presented here is extracted from UN-HABITAT's Global Urban Indicators database.
- The data is drawn from different sources and based on 2030 estimates.
Progress:
(Source: Matrix Final - based on national progress report for the 2007 Global Platform)
HFA P1 - Institutional and legal framework:
Establishment of the new agency “Hazard management Cayman Islands”(January,2007) The development of a national strategic framework to guide risk reduction. This document includes the priorities of the Hyogo framework
Establishment of an institutional framework including a national hazard management executive and council which will set policy. Ongoing development of legislation related to risk management.
HFA P2 - Risk identification and EWS:
Early warning system for hurricanes already exists. A seismic monitoring network is currently being established. It was expected that the country will be part of the Carribbean Tsunami warning system when that becomes operational.
Evaluation assessment for every property on Grand Cayman has been completed
Storm surge mapping of the country was in process
HFA P3 - Knowledge and education:
Public awareness programme for hurricanes. It includes brochures, booklets, use of electronic media(and in 2005 included an intervention specifically targeting 10-14 year-old)
In December 2006, the country marked its first earthquake awareness day (anniversary of the December magnitude 6.8)
HFA P4 - Risk applications:
Building code upgrading after hurricane Ivan in 2004. Every damaged structure had to be inspected and approved during reconstruction. Inspection of new buildings is compulsory and is forced. The national development plan is now under review.
Emergency shelters are being built to withstand category 5 storms and are equipped with emergency power and water.
A national assessment of living conditions is currently being undertaken
Legislation to further protect the environment is being reviewed, and the disaster-related legislation should also address issues related to protection and preservation of wetlands and other natural coastal features which reduce the risk of coastal flooding
HFA P5 - Preparedness and response:
Availability of emergency equipment for first responders and emergency management agencies.
Maintaining a functioning emergency telecommunication system, development of plans, including continuity of operational plans for government drills and exercises and training
An incident exercise has already been completed in 2007 and another is planned for May
The national hurricane plan is updated annually
Community preparedness program
Other Documents:
UNDP/ECLAC Workshop "Vulnerability to Natural Disasters and Damage Assessment"
Cayman-specific Information and Reports
Web Links:
PreventionWeb Country Profile - Natural Disaster - Cayman Island
EM-DAT Country Profile - Natural Disaster - Cayman Islands
ReliefWeb Countries and Emergencies - Cayman Island
